A former LeRoy-Ostrander Schools worker who lost her job for stealing more than $3,000 from the school’s Cardinal Kids Program will be serving probation.

Jennifer Lee Vreeman, 42, of LeRoy was sentenced to a stayed jail term of one year for gross misdemeanor theft in Mower County District Court on Monday. She must serve two years of probation and follow four conditions. Her charge was reduced from a felony.

According to court documents, Superintendent Jeff Sampson contacted law enforcement last July after he learned Vreeman was stealing from the education-based daycare program.

As coordinator, Vreeman was responsible for collecting fees, making business transactions and doing billing.

Sampson discovered cash payments made by parents were not deposited to the bank, and he began investigating the matter. According to court records, Vreeman admitted to Sampson that she’d been taking money since the summer of 2015.

School officials also learned she was not paying to enroll her own child in the program, even though there was no agreement for a discount or free service.

Vreeman was fired and was told that Sampson would be going to law enforcement.

School staff calculated that Vreeman took $3,265.55 from the school and owed $428.75 for unpaid fees for her family.

Along with probation, Vreeman must also pay $3,400.55 in fines, fees and restitution.
— Jason Schoonover contributed to this article