Brenda Pickering, 43, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft over $5,000 earlier this year.

Pickering -- who has no previous criminal record -- served as the volunteer treasurer for the school councils at J.M. Denyes and W.I. Dick as well as at Georgetown's Stewarttown Public School between 2002 and 2005.

A police investigation was initiated after a complaint by the Halton District School Board that irregularities had been discovered in the school councils' accounting practices.

Pickering was charged in February of 2006.

Friday at Ontario Court of Justice in Burlington, Justice Allan Cooper sentenced her to an 18-month conditional sentence, with six months' house arrest.

Pickering will be permitted to leave her home only for employment and for a few hours every Monday to shop for necessities. After the 18 months, she'll be on probation for a year.

For those two-and-a-half years, Pickering won't be permitted to serve in a position of trust for any not-for-profit organization.

At the time of the thefts, Pickering lived in Halton Hills. She now resides in Milton.

The sentencing had been delayed numerous times, with Pickering waiting for a tax return that would allow her to pay the balance of her restitution.

She was still waiting Friday, and has almost $8,000 left to pay. Cooper gave her until October 15.

The court heard earlier in the proceedings that Pickering used the stolen money -- about $10,000 from J.M. Denyes' council, $5,500 from W.I. Dick and $9,000 from Stewarttown -- to pay off credit cards and property taxes.

She has two children, aged 15 and 17, for whom she's the sole provider.

Cooper's sentence was in accordance with a joint submission made by Crown attorney Grace Romano and defence lawyer Thomas Hicks.

There for the sentencing was Debra Jolivet, who was vice-chair of the J.M. Denyes school council when the theft occurred. She told the Champion she's happy it's all over.

"I've been anxious to see a resolution for a long time," she said.

When the theft was discovered, Jolivet said she felt "really betrayed" by Pickering.

Pickering declined comment.

Stephanie Hounsell can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com.