Two high-level Broward schools administrators, including one who has already announced her resignation, are facing personnel investigations as a result of an audit that revealed failures in the district’s attempt to hire a company to oversee district construction, Superintendent Howard Hepburn said.
The district’s human resources department is investigating Jennifer Andreu, executive director of procurement, and her boss, Chief Operating Officer Wanda Paul, Hepburn told School Board members on Tuesday. Paul’s investigation comes despite her submitting a letter last week announcing she planned to resign in April.
A third employee, purchasing agent Mark Cohen, also is under an HR investigation, district spokesman John Sullivan confirmed Wednesday to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“The individuals referenced are currently under investigation as part of the audit findings,” Sullivan said. “The employees have been reassigned pending the outcome of that process.”
The three couldn’t be reached for comment by the Sun Sentinel despite attempts by phone and email.
“HR will conduct interviews and examine relevant documents and past decision-making to ensure maximum accountability,” Hepburn told the School Board on Tuesday. “I’ve asked HR to proceed with this investigation as swiftly as possible without compromising the integrity of the process. This is a high-priority.”
A report released last month by Chief Auditor Dave Rhodes’ office found numerous problems with a solicitation for a vendor to oversee hundreds of millions of dollars in district construction.
Among the findings: The district changed the type of management arrangement it would seek without informing the School Board, made major changes to the selection process after bids had already been received and failed to ensure the companies selected met the district’s qualifications.
The audit listed multiple examples where the district’s actions may have discouraged fair competition and may have violated state law.
As a result of the audit, Hepburn asked the School Board to reject all three bids received.
Since the district’s contract with its current management company, AECOM, expires Jan. 17, Hepburn declared an emergency in the construction program on Dec. 19, a status that will allow the district to hire a vendor without going through competitive bidding.
The School Board reviewed a new one-year, $15.2 million contract with AECOM on Tuesday, but the district is also negotiating with some other firms. The School Board plans to discuss the issue on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
The district “delayed and delayed until they were forced into a situation where they had to hold over AECOM, because they didn’t act fast enough to procure the new bid, and now they’re looking for someone to blame for that.” Pete Tingom, who represents the three employees through the Educational Support & Management Association of Broward, told the Sun Sentinel.
Tingom said he didn’t know who was responsible for the delays.
At a Dec. 16 meeting, School Board members urged Hepburn to take action to hold his staff accountable for the failures.
School Board member Allen Zeman said the investigations of the employees “are clearly a move in the right direction” for Hepburn.
“Multiple shocks to the system may be necessary to change the culture once and for all,” Zeman told the Sun Sentinel on Wednesday.
He said the first shock was the auditor’s report and the second is the investigation, which Zeman said reminds Hepburn’s staff that he’s serious about holding senior leaders accountable for their actions.
School Board member Adam Cervera also has been vocal about his concern.
He posted a statement on social media on Dec. 28 calling for Paul to resign.
In addition to his concern over the solicitation, Cervera criticized Paul’s role in a controversial lease with a nonprofit group, which the School Board canceled in November, leading to the district being sued.
“The scale, repetition, and impact of these breakdowns leave no credible path forward under the current leadership structure,” Cervera posted on the social site X on Dec. 28.
The next day, Paul submitted her resignation, stating her last day in the office would be April 3 but she would remain a district employee until June 3.
Sullivan said at the time she would use accrued leave for her days after April 3.
Sullivan did not say on Wednesday what prompted Hepburn to order an investigation rather than allowing her to resign.
Several board members said they want Paul gone sooner than April, including Cervera, Zeman and Nora Rupert.
“Howard Hepburn has repeatedly warned his staff that he will take appropriate action, even termination, if there’s cause to do so. He’s just doing exactly what he said he would do, which is both fair and appropriate,” Zeman said.
Paul, who started on May 20, 2024, has a yearly contract with the district that expires June 30.
Under the district’s employee discipline policy, yearly employees can’t be terminated before their contract expires unless the superintendent concludes there is just cause following a district personnel investigation and brings the recommendation to the School Board.
If the investigation were to find just cause for discipline, the superintendent also could recommend to the School Board other forms of discipline, such as a suspension or a demotion.
Andreu and Cohen have the same types of contracts as Paul.
Andreu, who is also a Plantation city commissioner, started with the district on Oct. 2, 2023. Cohen started with the district on Feb. 16, 2023.