DHS High clerk accused of embezzlement mostly collected money from students
Over the span of about 15 years, Deenan Kuhlman allegedly steadily siphoned off nearly $350,000 from Palm Springs Unified School District, according to a Riverside County Superior Court felony complaint. The ultimate sum, although large, was taken periodically in small amounts, mostly right from the hands of Desert Hot Springs High School students.
“She was responsible for was collecting money from students mostly — for dances, ticket sales, other kinds of student activities,” said Brian Murray, Assistant Superintendent of Palm Springs Unified School District. “And then it was her responsibility to make sure that it was all deposited in the right accounts and to make sure that that money was accounted for.”
In December, an auditor reviewing the district’s finances began to ask questions about the 20-year district employee’s bookkeeping; shortly after this, she reportedly came clean about the embezzlement.
“It was discovered through one of our yearly audits that there was some numbers that didn’t align with what the bank said we should have in those accounts,” Murray told KESQ & CBS Local 2.
Murray says Kuhlman had two different sets of books and that she was able to create documents that aligned perfectly to bank statements.
“When those were turned in to the district office, they looked like they were perfect matches of what came from the bank. As a result, this practice was continued for many many years,” Murray added.
Murray says that after the revelation they retroactively audited similar accounts within the district and have changed their internal protocol.
“What we’re doing now is we’re actually getting actual bank statements directly from the bank so there’s no way that they can be manipulated or monitored other than by us at first,” Murray said.
Murray says the district is taking steps to ensure the missing money is given back to the student clubs.
“We do have insurance for these kinds of things and we’re in the process of filing a claim with our insurance company to get the money back — at least, the amount that was uncovered by the forensic auditor,” Murray said.
Kuhlman is out on a $10,000 bond. Her arraignment is set for September 26.
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