It's a sad day when teachers and administrators abuse their position of trust and aauthority. The monies collected for "the trip-that-never-was" was in the tens of thousands. Each child, in good faith, paid $475-$575! The last head count was at 90 while another 58 forfeited the initital $100 due to untimely subsequent payments. Do the math!! How do you abscond with over $65K from children who trusted you to do the right thing? Where is the honor? Why (How?) did you turn off your conscience so easily? Madame President, if the monies were held by your own firm and the trip never materialized, what justifies a 45-60 day refund? Do not continue to further insult our intelligence by your deceit and betrayal. The village (that raises the child) has spoken and your services are no longer required!!

She need to go to jail this is some one that our children and she can not replace the money, time are relly bad but not that bad and if the Principal does not fire her then fire him.

Stephanie Sessoms-Midgett
The State of Georgia and the Board of Education should no longer allow these foolish acts to occur. Why should parents and students pay to belong to this type of corrupt association? She should go to jail and the schoool needs to be more accountable for allowing this mess to go on while using Westlake's name. These clicks run the schools pretending to have good intentions but only looking for ways to profit from these stupid associations and groups. I would bet my house that she has been lying and stealing for a very long time. Nothing will probably happen to her and she will have lots of support from other thieves and liars in the community. Just plain ridiculous. All these stupid groups are doing nothing to improve or focus on the education of our kids. Fulton County needs to change their motto to: "Where Stealing, Lying, Pretending and Clicks Come First"

Fulton County Schools - Where Students Come First
Georgia PTA - one child. one voice.

When is someone going to put these Westlake Senior High School students 1st and hear their voice?

I learned last night from the parent who was interviewed by WSB TV that Westlake High School (along with the parent) was notified that ALL STUDENTS WHO PAID FOR THE TRIP and their parents were invited by Disneyworld (within 48 hours of learning of the fiasco), at no cost to the student / parent and Westlake chose not to make the announcement. Now they had been making announcements for meetings since last November 2010, and made an announcement the day it was cancelled, but claimed (to the parent that was interviewed by WSB TV) that they don't get involved in parent-led events. This parent and I and others just met last night. I had filed a police report and crminal warrant and my lawyer sent the offender a demand for payment letter, but to no avail she is still performing duties as the Westlake PTSA President (as of 5/16/11) with Westlake, Fulton County Schools and Georgia PTA's knowledge of everything I and this other parent has done since 4/26/11. And the school has several receipts that were signed by more than 1 Westlake staff member in part (and a receipt book) that is a part of the police report. Can you say . . . .

This lady needs to have her position as PSTA president revoke right away......the school needs to be held accountable for allowing this to happen.....this is sad....

I am requesting an investigation this week of the school for the many violations of parent / student / school / PTSA relationships. I don't have the policies yet, but when I (and my attorney) do, I'll (we'll) know exactly how to address it so that the many teachers and staff (reportedly 4 to date) that were involved from the very beginning are investigated. re: parent led events, school led events, PTSA led events. The 2 PTSA-sponsored events this week (the Senior Breakfast 5/24/11 for sure and potentially the Senior Bonfire 5/25/11 ) have been 'PTSA led events' all year, until last week as told to me by the Area Superintendent. What happened to the PTSA money that was allocated for these 2 events? Expecting an answer to that question this week.

Kimberly Wright need to go to JAIL. She should get time for this. Just because she is Judge Marvin Arrington's niece does not mean that she should get away with it. Kimberly stole from the students, parents and the school. Her mom is Cynthia Arrignton Wright retired from DeKalb Schools as social worker, but she should be punished. People work hard for their money and this is someone that the students and parents trusted. ALL FUNDS SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR AND VERIFIED. Cynthia Wright always talking about they are "high class", well high class people don't do things like this.
I hope the parents get their money back. It is only fair.

Kimberly Wright....................Is Not Always Right!
Cynthia "Always" Right? Not about this. Your daughter has committed a crime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ Angel it is sad that you would place someone else's business on the "World Wide Web"..... clearly C. Wright can not think and live for an "ADULT". As people mistakes are made in life, sadly this is K. Wright's mistake. Before you talk about someone else's family take a look at yours..... (FINISH... GOOD) I'm sure there are a few "SKELETON'S" in your families closet!

I agree that there were a number of poor choices made by the Westlake Teachers, Administrators and by the parent at the center of this debaucle, Kimberly Wright. I think this and other incidents in the news point to an obvious problem is the system where money can be collected from students, without appropriate safeguards to prevent losses due to mismanagement or simply poor follow thru on promises.

However, all of that being said, I do not under how anyone, namely Angel, would find it appropriate to throw anyone's entire family under the bus because of one member's choices. In none of the accounts have I read that Kimberly Wright is a minor, in fact, as the parent of a Westlake student, it is fair to assume that she is at least or nearing 40 years old which would qualify her as an adult by modern standards. That being said, her mother, uncle or 8th grade boyfriend (lol) have absolutely nothing to do with her choices, it is in poor taste to reference them in any forum. Based on the tone of your comments, Angel, it appears that you have personal issues with the family that are not related to this incident, so it might be best for you to address those with them directly instead of calling innocent people out in this forum.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. It is my hope that the impacted students/families will receive refunds from either Kimberly or the school & measures are implemented ASAP to prevent anything like is from happening again.

We should learned something in 2009!!! But No this is the kind of people Westlake want on the TEAM. I pray that we ALL wake up and put our Children first. Ms.Wright needs to step down as President and she needs to be look at further because this might not be the first time,she just got CARELESS!!!!

100 days later after promised refund...school is out for the summer...then seniors are now matriculating as freshmen at their intended colleges/universities and still not one refund from Madame President Kimberley C. Wright. An epic failure and a community shame. Something to ponder Ms. Wright and Atlanta Public School officials "charged" with gross wrongdoings: If members of our community/race, (who've been historically subjected to untold stories of abuse and disparity), fail to protect the rights and dignities of our children as we choose them as innocent prey to predatory acts such as cheating, stealing and lying, then how can we hold accountable others that take unfair advantage of them?

Human nature lends us certain tendencies that excuses bad behavior by shedding light on the good that is being done in the midst of a wrong but an African proverb aptly reminds us that "A thousand truths are cancelled by one lie."

For once, do the right thing and do it soon-- the world is watching. Our children are watching. HE is watching!

Yes, this is a travesty. As a parent that is receiving even this recent run-around (last week), the complete disregard for human kind (that being our former senior students), is unreal. And what is not happening with the process to bring this person to some type of criminal justice is unbelievable and very sad. Some of us remain diligent, however, and some new parents are coming forward over the last week in complete disbelief. This reminds me of struggles I read about as a teenager and the determination and perserverance required from my ancestors. Thank you Lord for He is the sovereign authority and already has it worked out.

Has any parent ever received the attorneys information that was suppose to be issuing the checks out ?

I know one parent (Westlake's PTSA treasurer) that was paid last week. The law firm dispersing funds whenever Kimberly Wright gives them money and tells them who she wants to pay - has a list. You can call and see if your name is on the list, but I imagine this process will take a long time since there may be up to 50 students - and if she's paying from her SSI check or someone else's paycheck - who knows. The tackiness continues. The law firm name is The Fuller Law Group on Peachtree Street NE.

Let me correct myself. I should have said "a SSI" check because I don't know anything about this perpetrator and her source of income. There are also still several arrest warrants for her arrest and 'demand for refund' attorney letters that she has been served with. But myself, nor anyone I have actually met between April 26, 2011 has been paid, nor contacted - we continually reach out to obtain refunds - but to no avail thus far.

A stagnant update: Kimberly Wright, former PTA president of Westlake High School-Atlanta is back in the news. Parents are still seeking a refund from this cancelled trip but Ms. Wright has not proven capable to return the money, of which approxiamtely $50 THOUSAND DOLLARS was collected. If there was never a contract for services with a bus compay, a hotel or Walt Disney World, please explain how and why the money was allocated for any other purpose? Why have you not reconciled, as promised in your letter, within 45-60 days? 90-180 days? A criminal warrant has currently been executed against her for theft by deception and conversion,both felonies. Unfortuantely, "executed" merely means a pink slip has been sent to her home asking her nicely to turn herself in, but she has not spent one minute behind bars or even in handcuffs. Food for thought: If in today's economic shift, where people applying for credit, jobs, inusrance and housing must undergo a credit check to determine worthiness and reliability, then why are people placed in positions of authority AND fiduciary roles within the school systems NOT required to submit to the same? How many cheerleader coaches, bake sale organizers, PTA presidents and car wash/uniforms/band instruments functions will Georgia's schools have before we TRULY hold accountable the people collecting the money? Is there any difference between robbing a bank or embezzling from the bank? I'm just saying.

...smh...let's just say, i've had my own personal experience with the "MADAME"....

ATTENTION ALL WESTLAKE PARENTS SCAMMED DURING THE CLASS OF 2011 "DISNEY TRIP".....
If you have a receipt from Kimberly Wright from the canceled trip (AND AT THIS POINT WE SHOULD STOP SAYING"CANCELED" AS IT WAS NEVER BOOKED, ijs) to Disney World AND you have not received a refund, please make plans to meet Angela White, mother of Anisha Brown, in court Monday, 11/14/2011 in Court Room 1 on Pryor Street at 8:30 a.m. Even if you do not have a receipt bearing all the monies paid OR if you were one of the 200 whose one hundred dollar deposit was illegally forfeited, PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
Call Angela for more information at (404) 343-4635. Remember: "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." INDEED!

Ms. Anderson, Cascade Patch comments rail has heard from the same group of parents about this since May. Have you contacted the district and Is there an official letter from the district concerning this?

Ms. Poe,

When you refer to the "District", to whom are you referring? The Board of Education has denounced responsibility, citing the event was not a scool sanctioned event, despite all trip notices appeared on WESTLAKE letterhead and teachers and/or office employees accepted money and issued receipts during school hours, at the school. This entire process of discovery and recovery has been a slippery slope from the inception for reasons that will remain untold. I've been working closely with Ms. White in assisting her to recoup her hard earned monies not only for her child, my niece, but for all other children/parents whose money was absconded "without so much as a by your leave" by the former PTSA ex-president.

Another paramount factor that has stalled the progress of recovering the monies
is thus: THE MONEY HAS DISAPPEARED! So, please, if you can kindly tell me from which District should there be an official letter filed that documents this travesty and allows justice to prevail, please feel free and I thank you in advance for your intervention.

COURT UPDATE:

The civil case with Parents of Westlake vs. Kimberly Wright has been re-scheduled for trial November 30, 2011, 9:00 a.m. Channel 2 was in the courtroom this morning while the case was to be heard. The judge was surprised to see that 5 parents, including the main pursuer Angela White, were there in demand of money taken by the Defendant, during last year's Senior Trip fiasco. For more information, please call Angela at (404) 966-6530.

This just in...Kimberly Wright and legal presentation were a NO SHOW in court today. Sixteen sets of parents were present to argue their cases in Fulton County court before the Honorable Judge this morning at 9:00 a.m. A husband and wife drove from Mississippi to attend the trial, hoping to receive a modicum of justice for this travesty committed against hard working families and their susceptible children. Needless to say, the accumulative amount of money spent by the parents through court expenses, loss pay from work and to say nothing of the frustration of a delayed sense of action to bring forth justice, still pales in comparison to the thousands of dollars stolen by the ex-PTSA president of Westlake High School.

According to a parent attending the empty courtroom this morning, a warrant was issued for her arrest. Good luck with that.

The slow wheels of justice has begun its move!

According to the Fulton County Jail list of the recently arrested, Kimberly Wright, a prior no-show to the case against her from a few dozens disgruntled Westlake parents, was arrested and released December 13, 2011 on a measly $500 bond.

(http://inmates.fultonsheriff.net/PublicBookingCharges_list.asp?mastertable=PublicBookings&masterkey1=1106179)

The charge of Theft By Deception will finally be addressed, as she is scheduled to appear (or not) in court for a second time. The January 12, 2012 court date has been confirmed and all parents, who wish to provide testimony to the fact that monies collected for a senior class trip were presumably embezzled by the Defendant, should be in attendance. For more information about courtroom location, please call Ms. Angela White at (404) 966-6530.

Please be present today in Magistrate Court, 160 Pryor Street, Room 2N at 1:30 p.m to attend the Theft by Deception hearing against Kimberly Wright, for her role in diverting thousands of dollars collected for a bogus Disney World trip. Even if a refund, either partial or full, has been paid by the defendant, please attend court to support other victims. There is safety in numbers.

"Injustice ANYWHERE is a threat to justice EVERYWHERE!" - Dr. Martin Luther King

It is with regret that I report that the dishonorable Ms. Kimberly Wright pulled another NO SHOW in today's court proceedings agaisnt her for Theft by Deception. I smell a rat! In fact, she purportedly sent a letter to the the Magistrate Court citing not enough time has been given her to prepare for her defense. Maybe it's me, folks, but we are 3 months short of this entire debacle being a year old. Angela White, primary plantiff, has appeared in court a record number of SEVEN times! That's 7 times taking days off from work, expending fuel costs and parking fees and resting her hopes in a justice system that will support due process, despite the Defendant's well connected familial ties. Something has to give...