The Broward School District is facing a state review after Florida’s education commissioner learned of a flyer for a Democratic gala that featured six School Board members and the district’s logo.
The flyer in question says, “The Broward School Board of Broward County celebrates the Broward Democratic Party’s Obama Roosevelt Legacy Dinner,” according to a Wednesday post on X from state Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas.
Pictured in the flyer are Democratic School Board members Sarah Leonardi, Maura Bulman, Debbi Hixon, Nora Rupert, and Jeff Holness, as well as Adam Cervera, a Gov. Ron DeSantis appointee who is the only Republican on the nine-member board. The district’s logo is also pictured, saying “Established in 1915. Broward County Public Schools.”
The gala was held March 28 at the Signature Sunrise Ballroom, according to a Facebook post from the Florida Democratic Party. It’s unclear where the flyer appeared.
On Wednesday, Kamoutsas sent a letter to Superintendent Howard Hepburn voicing concern about the flyer and instructing the district he was referring the matter to his department’s Office of Inspector General for “review and any further action deemed appropriate.”
“Public school systems do not exist to promote, align with, or lend credibility to partisan political organizations,” Kamoutsas wrote in his letter. “The use of an official district logo in connection with a political event creates a clear appearance of endorsement and erodes public trust in the neutrality and integrity of our education system. This is a fundamental and widely understood obligation that every superintendent, board member, and district employee is expected to uphold without exception.”
He said that while board members are allowed to attend political events on their own, the district cannot “further political activism” through the use of a district logo.
“This incident signals either a knowing misuse of public resources or a breakdown in oversight so significant that it raises serious questions about the fitness of those involved to serve in their current roles,” the commissioner wrote. “Neither explanation is acceptable. I am calling for the immediate discipline of all employees responsible for creating, approving, and distributing this flier.”
Leonardi, who is the board chairwoman, sent a letter to the commissioner on Wednesday, saying the district agrees the use of the logo was “inappropriate and unacceptable,” but doesn’t explain what happened.
— Broward County Public Schools (@browardschools) April 22, 2026
“Let me be clear: Broward County Public Schools does not condone the use of its name, logo or resources for any partisan purpose,” Leonardi wrote. “We are taking immediate and decisive action to address this matter and ensure it does not happen again.”
Leonardi said district administrators will remind employees that the district’s logo is not allowed to be used by outside entities without prior approval from the chief of staff’s office.
“Additionally, our General Counsel will develop a formal School Board policy to clearly codify these requirements and eliminate any ambiguity regarding the appropriate use of District branding,” she wrote. “We will also implement mandatory training for all staff to ensure full understanding of these standards and the importance of maintaining strict neutrality in the operation of our public schools.”
She wrote that any employee “found to have knowingly participated in, approved or failed to prevent this misuse will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.”
Kamoutsas wrote in his letter that he expects “every member of the Broward County School Board to publicly and unequivocally denounce the use of the district’s logo in connection with any partisan political event and to reaffirm a commitment to political neutrality in the operation of the school system.”
The flyer also prompted a response from Blaise Ingoglia, the state’s chief financial officer, who questioned on X about who authorized it and how it was paid.
“Under NO circumstances should a school district be part of promoting any political party or any fundraiser associated with it,” Ingoglia wrote.
Cervera, when reached by the Sun Sentinel, declined to comment. Bulman texted that she would get back to the Sun Sentinel but didn’t provide a comment by early Wednesday afternoon. Hixon, Holness and Rupert couldn’t be reached.