The Broward School Board has approved new safeguards after facing criticism from state Republican leaders for using a district logo and a district credit card in connection to a Democratic Party fundraiser.
The changes, approved at a Tuesday night meeting, include policy changes related to logo use, increased training and an audit of district-issued credit cards, formally known as procurement cards, for School Board members and chief executives.
State Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas announced last week the state Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General would conduct a formal investigation after he saw the Broward County Public Schools logo on the advertisement for a program for the Obama–Roosevelt Legacy Gala, an event the Broward Democratic Party held last month in Sunrise.
Board Chairman Sarah Leonardi acknowledged that her executive secretary, who placed the ad, also mistakenly used Leonardi’s district-issued procurement card to pay for the $150 ticket for the gala. That secretary resigned on Monday, district officials said. Leonardi said she reimbursed the district for the cost of the ticket.
District officials have said the cost of the actual advertisement was paid for not by the district but by six board members whose pictures appeared in the ad: They are Democrats Leonardi, Jeff Holness, Debbi Hixon, Maura McCarthy Bulman and Nora Rupert and Republican Adam Cervera.
“We teach our students that mistakes can happen, but what defines us is how we respond. In this case, my focus has been on transparency, accountability, and immediate corrective action,” Leonardi said. “That remains my focus. I will continue to lead with integrity. I will continue to ensure that facts guide how I serve this community.”
The School Board approved most of Leonardi’s proposed corrective actions but voted against two of them.
One would have hired an outside law firm to investigate what happened. Several board members said that was unnecessary because the state is already investigating.
“This is stupid,” Board member Adam Cervera said at the meeting. “The OIG at the Department of Education is coming down here and will do its thing with a lot more resources than any private law firm that we would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to come in and do. And in addition, whatever the state says, that’s going to be the law of the land and if the state conflicts with the law firm, the state’s going to win.”
Board members also rejected a proposal to move the oversight of School Board executive secretaries from School Board members to the superintendent’s office.
“I think trying to change who the executive secretaries report to doesn’t make sense,” Board member Debbi Hixon said. “It would give them two bosses. I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Most board members said they believe the logo and procurement card use were honest mistakes, and they praised Leonardi’s efforts to rectify them.
“It was fixed as soon as you realized it, and I appreciate you continuing to be transparent with issues as you find them and serving us in the county with integrity,” Hixon said.
Cervera, a DeSantis appointee who frequently brings up financial oversight and accountability issues, was more critical.
“I was certainly disappointed to learn that this is now another potential issue where the public is going to look at all of us as a whole, as a district, and scratch their heads and say, ‘You know what? Can I trust these guys?”