The day after the RCMP confirmed an investigation into money missing from a Surrey elementary school, a second Surrey school said its coffers have also been drained.

Surrey officials are looking into a report of thousands of dollars missing from a bank account managed by the parent advisory council at Serpentine Heights.

It appears that between $15,000 and $20,000 has gone missing from the elementary school.

Doug Strachan, communications manager with the Surrey School District, said Serpentine discovered the money was missing at the end of last school year.

"The Surrey RCMP have been investigating since July," Strachan said.

"The entire school community is upset by (the theft), and they're focused now on trying to restore that money."

On Wednesday, RCMP told CTV News that its Surrey detachment is investigating a similar incident at École K.B. Woodward, an elementary school located less than 10 kilometres west of Serpentine Heights.

Tens of thousands of dollars have vanished from the account where K.B. Woodward's parent advisory council keeps its funds. That school discovered the missing money at the beginning of the current school year, Strachan said.

He said it doesn't appear there is a connection between the thefts, but the police are investigating.

"Fortunately it's an extremely rare thing to happen. It's coincidental that it's happened in close proximity to each other," he said. He told CTV he only remembers one other theft in the last 13 years.

"In any event, it's a devastating piece of news to hear for the parents and children of the school, and the school itself."

Money raised by parent advisory councils can be used for a variety of educational investments that "support the goals of the school," Strachan said.

The council at Woodward had been saving up for a new playground for the past three years.

Through bottle drives and bake sales, they managed to nearly reach their $50,000 goal, but it was just discovered that the cash had been drained from the account sometime over the summer.

"The money is not in our account anymore," PAC President Krystal Dumais told CTV News.

Parents were notified Tuesday by a letter sent home with their children.

"We are all devastated to hear this news. We hope the police investigation will result in a better understanding of what has occurred and perhaps even provide the possibility of recovering some or all of the missing funds," it reads.

The PAC said members are working to put together a fundraising event to start refilling the coffers soon.

The advisory committee is asking others not to speculate where the missing money might be.

Dumais said in their time of crisis, they need parental support -- not negativity.

"We're going to work hard and get our funds back," she said.

Mom Brandee Babcook found the note in her chlid's backpack and called the theft "disgusting."

Like many parents at the school, she has been left with more questions than answers – and has to teach her children a tough lesson.

"It's an uncomfortable thing to talk about. That another human would be capable of stealing their money," she said.

"They're just kids, this is an elementary school. It's deplorable.”

A fundraising account has been set up online for those who wish to donate to Woodward.