The head of a Catholic school parents' group says school board trustees who misspent public funds -- according to an auditor's report -- should pay back the money or face legal consequences for their actions.

The report leaked this week found trustees of the city's Catholic school board billed the public purse for thousands of dollars worth of expenses that weren't all business related.

Murielle Boudreau of the Greater Toronto Catholic Parent Network alleges those trustees violated public confidence at a time when children's programs are on the chopping block and every dollar counts.

"(I) just can't believe trustees that have been elected with the trust for our children's education could behave this way," she told CTV Toronto on Friday.

The Toronto District Catholic School Board is responsible for 90,000 students across the Greater Toronto Area.

The report showed trustees billed for multiple meals in one day, alcohol and even food and drinks from hotel mini-bars.

Some trustees also gave themselves an annual car allowance of $8,600 and medical and dental benefits -- going against legal advice on the matter.

The report found that:

  • Former board chair Oliver Carroll expensed $7,577 for his master's degree tuition
  • Former trustee Christine Nunziata charged taxpayers for a trip to the Dominican Republic
  • Current vice-chair Ann Andrachuk spent $3,000 on an office for her house
    The board met Thursday night to discuss the spending habits of its trustees.

Andrachuk defended her spending by saying she asked permission before going ahead with her addition.

"I went to legal counsel prior to doing anything with it and I asked them if it could be done or how it could be done because there are regulations in place and I was assured it was fine," she said.

Ward 5 trustee Maria Rizzo, who was called to task for buying prizes and awards for students, says there is too cozy a relationship between some board staff and certain trustees, citing Andrachuck's case.

"She can say, 'Well, it wasn't me. It was all approved. Everyone signed off on it. Everything is okay," Rizzo said Thursday.

Parents in Andrachuk's ward told CTV Toronto they are less than impressed with the spending.

"I think it's ridiculous," said one woman. "I think it's a sin. With all the cutbacks, with the children's programs being cut back, I think it's just a mortal sin."

With a report from CTV Toronto's Janice Golding