Lee County Board of Education: An In-Depth Look at Recent Audit Findings and Initiatives
The Lee County School Board, serving over 108,000 students, faces scrutiny following a recent state audit. Florida Auditor General Sherrill Norman released the operational audit on February 17th, highlighting several critical findings from the district’s 2024-2025 fiscal year. This article delves into the key issues raised by the audit and explores other initiatives within the Lee County School District.
Delayed Reporting of Sexual Misconduct Cases
One of the most concerning findings of the audit is the delayed reporting of sexual misconduct cases. Florida law mandates that school districts report employees deemed ineligible for employment to the state's disqualification list within 48 hours of a final order. This list is crucial to prevent individuals terminated for misconduct in one district from being hired in another.
The audit revealed that the Lee County School District failed to meet this standard in five cases. Four employees terminated for sexual misconduct involving students were reported late, with one individual's reporting delayed by at least four months. Three others were reported between 50 and 63 days after the deadline. Additionally, a fifth employee who pleaded guilty to possessing controlled substances in June 2025 had not been reported as of December 2025, with no final order issued.
The audit also uncovered a lack of required affidavits of separation for four employees terminated for cause. These affidavits are essential for other districts to properly vet job applicants.
In response to these findings, Superintendent Denise Carlin stated that the district acknowledges the preliminary audit findings and is committed to strengthening internal controls, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and rules, and implementing sustainable corrective actions. The district plans to revise Board policy to require reporting and recordkeeping in accordance with applicable Florida Statutes governing alleged misconduct investigations and disqualification list reporting. Furthermore, procedures have been implemented to ensure appropriate documentation, follow-up, and management oversight to verify that final orders are promptly issued, and reporting requirements are met in a timely and consistent manner.
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Questionable Severance Payment to Former Superintendent
The state audit also raised questions regarding a $78,110 payment made to former Superintendent Christopher Bernier, who resigned in April 2024 after the School Board approved a separation agreement.
Bernier’s departure occurred months after 62% of Lee County voters approved a 2022 referendum changing the superintendent’s position from appointed to elected. Bernier had previously stated that he did not intend to seek the seat once it became elected. Board members indicated that his decision to leave came quickly and on short notice, despite his prior indication that he would stay through the end of his term. Following his departure, the board appointed Ken Savage as interim superintendent in a 5-2 vote after an alternative motion to appoint then-Chief of Staff Michael Ramirez failed.
Under the separation agreement, Bernier was set to receive 20 weeks of severance pay, the maximum allowed under state law. With an annual salary of $275,400, that equates to roughly $105,900 before taxes.
The state audit questioned a separate $78,110 payment approved as part of Bernier’s departure. District officials stated that the payment stemmed from a renegotiated contract following an employment dispute. However, the audit states that district records showed no evidence of a dispute or a renegotiated agreement. The separation agreement indicated that the former official would provide "advisory services," but auditors reported that the district could not produce documentation showing those services were performed.
The Auditor General recommended that the School Board take action to recover the $78,110, placing the decision back on the board’s table.
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Deficiencies in Emergency Preparedness Drills
The audit revealed that required safety drills across 107 district and charter schools did not fully meet state standards during the 2024-25 school year. While schools completed mandatory active threat drills, they missed one of the two required drills for other emergencies, such as severe weather, natural disasters, or hazardous materials incidents.
District staff informed auditors that they believed bomb threat drills satisfied that requirement, which is incorrect. The audit emphasizes that without the required drills, the district cannot demonstrate compliance or full preparedness for a range of emergencies. The report does not specify which schools missed drills, indicating that the issue was districtwide.
Internal Control Weaknesses in Payroll and HR Systems
For the third consecutive audit, the state found that some employees had excessive access within the district’s payroll and HR systems. Nineteen employees had access levels that allowed them to perform tasks that should be separated to prevent fraud or error. For instance, an accountant could update time worked, adjust payroll, and create manual checks. This type of access increases the risk of unauthorized transactions occurring without detection. Similar findings appeared in previous audit reports in 2020 and 2023, indicating a persistent issue that has yet to be resolved.
Unchecked Purchasing Cards After Staff Departures
The district’s purchasing card program processed $6.9 million in expenditures during the audit period. Auditors discovered that cards assigned to four former employees remained active for up to 101 days after they left the district. Temporary spending limit increases also remained in place longer than authorized. This allowed two employees to spend a combined $13,968 over their normal monthly limits after the authorized period had ended. While this amount may seem small in the context of a multibillion-dollar school system, the audit highlights the failure of controls designed to prevent such occurrences.
Other Areas of Review
In addition to the key findings, the audit also examined several other areas, including:
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- Construction Projects: Auditors reviewed $247.5 million spent on three major construction projects, part of $400.1 million in total construction expenditures. The review focused on how architects and construction managers were selected, whether subcontractors were properly licensed, and whether the district used available sales tax exemptions on direct material purchases.
- Emergency Spending: Auditors analyzed $7.1 million in emergency spending tied to declared states of emergency to confirm compliance with state law and board policy.
- Contracted Services: Auditors analyzed $11.2 million in contracted services payments to ensure competitive selection rules were followed and contracts clearly defined deliverables.
- Financial Oversight: Auditors checked bank reconciliations, public meeting notices, board minutes, and whether the district properly posted its budget and three-year financial efficiency data online.
- Student Industry Certifications: The district was directed to refund $8,000 to the state after reporting eight student industry certifications that were ineligible for performance funding.
Additional Initiatives and Programs
Beyond the audit findings, the Lee County School District is actively involved in various initiatives and programs aimed at improving education and opportunities for its students. These include:
- Teacher Recruitment: The district hosts teacher recruitment fairs to connect future educators with hiring principals and explore open teaching roles.
- Student Enrollment Plan: The 2026-2027 student enrollment plan includes changes to high school transportation and middle school zones AA and CC transportation.
- Vendor Networking: The district organizes networking events to facilitate direct connections between vendors and government agencies.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE): Programs like the Dunbar High game design program allow students to build characters and complex simulations to learn about the future of CTE.
- Diversity and Inclusion: The district emphasizes diversity and individuality, seeking to understand unique perspectives and helping students reach their highest personal potentials.
Demolition of Cypress Lake Middle School
Cypress Lake Middle School is currently undergoing demolition to make way for a new, modern school building on the same campus. This project signifies the district's commitment to providing updated facilities for its students. Principal Matt Miller has discussed the demolition process and the future plans for the new school.
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