<\/p>\n
Broward County School Board Chair Sarah Leonardi and Superintendent Howard Hepburn attend a workshop on April 21, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n
Natalie La Roche Pietri<\/p>\n
WLRN Public Media<\/p>\n
A formal investigation is underway into Broward County Public Schools after a board member\u2019s ticket for a partisan political event was paid for with public funds, Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas announced Friday.<\/p>\n
Posting on X, Kamoutsas said the state\u2019s Department of Education Inspector General is looking into Florida\u2019s second-largest school district after six School Board members and the district\u2019s logo were featured on an advertisement for a Broward County Democratic Party gala event. Moreover, a School Board member\u2019s ticket for the event was purchased with a district-issued purchasing card.<\/p>\n
School Board Chair Sarah Leonardi, who was featured in the ad, submitted a letter to the commissioner confirming her secretary used the card to buy a $150 ticket to the gala.<\/p>\n
In her letter, Leonardi said she had not authorized her secretary to use the purchasing card.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs has been my consistent practice, I made clear that these expenses would be paid from my personal and other non-district funds, and not from any district resources,\u201d Leonardi wrote in the letter.<\/p>\n
She said she immediately took action to reimburse the district with a $150 money order and returned her card \u201cto ensure full accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have also spoken to the Superintendent and the Chief of Human Resources regarding discipline consequences,\u201d Leonardi wrote. \u201cAs is the practice and per Board policy, Human Resources is conducting its own investigation and will take appropriate disciplinary action, which may include termination.\u201d<\/p>\n
The board is scheduled to meet on April 28. Leonardi said that to ensure this doesn\u2019t happen again in any district department, she\u2019s presenting an agenda item to guard against misuse of district funds and wrongfully using the district logo.<\/p>\n
The item also directs the chief auditor to conduct an audit of how purchasing cards have been used in the district for the last year and authorizes general counsel to find an outside firm to investigate.<\/p>\n
Florida\u2019s Code of Ethics outlines that officials cannot use taxpayer money to \u201cto secure a special privilege (or) benefit\u201d for themselves or other people. The interpretation is largely concerned with using the money in a way that furthers official duties, not personal use. And the language of the law uses the word \u201ccorruptly,\u201d potentially limiting the consequences of this case if it\u2019s concluded to be accidental.<\/p>\n
Advertisement for Democratic gala<\/p>\n
The ad for the Broward Democratic Party\u2019s Obama Roosevelt Legacy Dinner, which happened in March, included headshot photos of six board members and the district logo.<\/p>\n
In the letter, Leonardi contends she had not seen the ad before it went out. \u201cSpecifically, I was not aware that the District\u2019s logo would be used,\u201d she wrote, saying its inclusion \u201cundermines the neutrality and integrity that the public rightfully expects from its school system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kamoutsas publicly raised concerns over the ad for the first time on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficial district branding must never be used to advance partisan efforts,\u201d he wrote at the time on X. \u201cThe students, teachers, and community in Broward County deserve leadership that respects this boundary and exercises sound judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic school systems do not exist to promote, align with, or lend credibility to partisan political organizations,\u201d he wrote in a letter to Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn on Wednesday. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leonardi responded in a letter the same day. Her letter acknowledging the ticket purchase was posted Friday on X by Kamoutsas, who called Leonardi\u2019s actions \u201cTotally Unacceptable!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe agree that public school systems exist to serve students and families,\u201d Leonardi wrote. \u201cWe remain firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, accountability and public trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the agenda item at next week\u2019s meeting also directs the general counsel to develop policies regarding the use of the district\u2019s name and\/or logo.<\/p>\n
The Republican Party of Florida pounced on the news, saying Leonardi\u2019s ticket purchase raised serious concerns about the use of public resources for political purposes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe commend the state for taking swift action to investigate and ensure that those responsible are held accountable,\u201d said RPOF Chairman Evan Power in a statement on Friday.<\/p>\n