Robin Harkins, 43, was given five years' probation by Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Karen Shreeves-Johns in exchange for guilty pleas to charges including theft, receiving stolen property, and records tampering.

The stolen money had been collected from students and at fund-raisers related to graduations, proms, and extracurricular activities.

Lisa Caulfield, chief of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Economic Crimes Unit, said that Harkins received cash from various student-activities sponsors. She was supposed to issue receipts, then deposit the money in a bank account.

"The evidence showed she failed to make deposits totaling $23,000," Caulfield said.

School district officials said that as much as $100,000 might have been taken from the fund between 2004 and January 2008, and that others could be implicated. An investigation by the district's inspector general is ongoing.

An anonymous tip launched the probe into the missing funds. Harkins retired from the district in March 2008 when asked to explain what happened to the money.

The district has since tightened controls on the student-activity funds, which exist at all district schools. Schools that do not account for student-activity and petty-cash funds now are subject to disciplinary action.

City Controller Alan Butkovitz has blasted the district for poor oversight of the funds.

Fernando Gallard, a spokesman for the school district, said that the money Harkins repaid would go back to Germantown High's student fund.

"It's a very painful thing, and discouraging for our kids, when someone misuses their office this way," Gallard said. "But we're very glad the money is being returned."