July 9, 2009

• News:  FL School Principals Misuse CC

  Two, not one, Palm Beach County, Florida school principals allegedly misused their county school district's credit cards. Jonathan Prince, Palm Beach Gardens High Principal racked up over $4,000 in unauthorized charges when he used the district's card to pay for entertainment expenses for his wife, relatives, and staff. None of the charges were on the approved list of expenditures and included high priced dinners, hotel room services, and gifts for family, friends, and staff. When questioned about the charges, Prince told authorities that he had never been told what the rules were for use of the credit card and that he did not have a "clear understanding" of what he could or could not use the card for. Talk about not accepting responsibility for your own actions, Prince said his staff did not have a clear understand either and that he expects his staff to tell him what expenditures are approved. In a hearing, the Palm Beach High school district deemed that Prince had violated the district's credit card policies. Prince was demoted from his Principal's position and put on a 25 day suspension without pay.

  Jack Thompson, Boca Raton Community Middle School Principal racked up nearly $7,000 in alleged unauthorized credit card charges. Thompson used his card on questionable charges including box lunches and Chinese food for his staff, end of year gifts for his staff from Bath and Body Works and Kohl's. When Thompson was asked why he repeatedly used the district's card to pay for meals and gifts for his staff, he said that he had never received any training on use of the card and had been doing so for years without question from the district. In a hearing by the school district, Thompson was found innocent of any violations. However, Thompson says that he will never again use the district's credit cards to avoid any further scrutiny of possible misuse.

  The discrepancy between the outcomes of the two cases has many principals concerned about the school district's credit card policies. Some believe the policy is not clear enough and want the guidelines to be more transparent. Principals are also concerned that they will not be able to provide incentives to their staff for a job well done. The school district will be reviewing the policy.
  
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