Officials: PTO Didn't Misuse Money

Tensions peaked at Hopatcong's council meeting Wednesday when officials tried clearing rumors a borough parent-teacher organization misused money.

Councilwoman Madeline McManus said she recently asked school Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano whether Hopatcong Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, or HEPTO, was allowed to use money for events outside the school district. She said she believed the organization's funds should be used within the schools.

HEPTO ran several activities for children at Hopatcong Days weeks ago, and has been part of the borough celebration since its inception, officials said.

But McManus, a retired longtime Hopatcong teacher, denied starting a rumor, or that one existed. Councilmen Michael Francis and Marie Ryder-Galate and former HEPTO president Cathy Bowen said McManus should have asked parent-teacher organization heads before going to the superintendent.

"Why would you do that?" Ryder-Galate said. "HEPTO has been part of Hopatcong Days for the last four years."

"If you did have a question, you really should have called HEPTO," which is independent of the school district, Bowen said. "Our books are open to everybody. We do our budget every single year, and it's presented at every meeting. You never once came to a meeting. If you have questions, instead of calling Dr. Maranzano, you should have called one of the girls on the board."

McManus said she "never accused HEPTO of misappropriation of funds."

Mayor Sylvia Petillo mentioned the rumor early in Wednesday's meeting and called on Maranzano to clarify. Maranzano said he stood behind HEPTO and wanted "nip" the rumor "in the bud." HEPTO is "one of the steady forces keeping the morale up between each individual school," he said.

Without mentioning McManus' name, Maranzano then said he was asked about HEPTO's participation in Hopatcong Days. "And the answer was very simple—they voted on that," he said. "And they consider that an extension of what they do for our schools since they were serving the children, and there was a minor expenditure associated with it. But certainly justified and rationalized by the organization."

In a text, Bowen said HEPTO's budget "provides activities for the elementary children of Hopatcong."

Petillo also defended HEPTO.

"I always have a problem with rumors because nobody ever comes and asks me," she said. "They just go around making statements with no background information. Hopatcong Days is a phenomenal community event and it just seems to be growing every year. It started four years ago. All the different organization—they don't give any money to us. We give them a place and they bring whatever they want to the event.

"HEPTO is a big part of that and we can't do it without them."

McManus said she first questioned the parent-teacher organization's involvement after seeing its name on a banner. Petillo said she never put HEPTO on a banner in the past, but did it this year to give the organization recognition.

HEPTO's website said its main goal is raise "funds and provides volunteers to support the children in Hudson Maxim, Tulsa Trail and Durban Avenue schools."