Two former Coatesville school district teachers are free on bail today after being arrested on charges that they bilked the school district out of thousands of dollars by submitting false timecards for homebound instruction..

Patricia Jones, 51, of 312 Barclay Court, Thorndale, and Maryellen Winn, of 107 Larson Lane, Coatesville were both arrested May 22 on multiple forgery and theft-related charges, following a lengthly investigation by county detectives. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 4 before District Judge Robert Davis in Coatesville.

Jones was charged with 40 counts of forgery, 35 counts of theft by unlawful taking, 35 counts of theft by deception, and 35 counts of of receiving stolen property. Winn was charged 58 counts of forgery, 47 counts of theft by unlawful taking, 47 counts of theft by deception, and 47 counts of receiving stolen property.

According to police reports, both Jones and Winn were assigned between Sept. 24, 2004, and May 24, 2005 by the school district to conduct homebound instruction to four students who were unable to attend regular classes. The same students were assigned to both Winn and Jones.

According to police reports, both Jones and Winn allegedly filled out the required homebound logs listing dates and times for tutoring services that never took place and then allegedly forged the students signatures.

Jones, according to police reports, on 35 occasions allegedly falsified tutoring services for 85 hours for which she earned $24 per hour in addition to her regular teaching salary. Similarly, Winn allegedly falsified tutoring services on 47 occasions for which she was paid $24 per hour for 113.25.

County detectives interviewed all four students during a lengthly investigation. The students reportedly were able to identify which of their signatures had been forged to the homebound instruction log and were able to recall on which dates instruction never took place.