Broward schools feel uneasy after trust misconduct scandal
Broward County schools have faced a series of administrative missteps that have drawn criticism from the school board and local officials. A $2.6 million lease for a Wilton Manors office building was signed without adequate oversight, prompting the board to terminate the lease and forcing the landlord, HANDY, to sue the district.
At the same time, staff procurement processes for the district’s $125 million construction program were found to be rushed and lacking proper vendor vetting. The board was compelled to reject three bids and negotiate an emergency contract to extend the agreement with current contractor AECOM until January 17, 2026.
Board members have expressed loss of confidence in district staff, naming Superintendent Howard Hepburn, Chief Operations Officer Wanda Paul, and assistant general counsel Tom Cooney as focal points of concern. In a televised interview on December 21, Hepburn said he was reviewing a staff audit to determine whether omissions were negligent or intentional.
The controversy echoes earlier events, including Governor Ron DeSantis’s 2022 suspension of four board members after a grand jury found mismanagement of a bond‑financed renovation program. Five of the district’s nine board seats will be up for election at the start of the new year.
The district plans to appoint a new general counsel from Fort Myers and anticipates auditor Dave Rhodes retiring on March 2, bringing further changes to its administrative structure.