By Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics
(Source: Miami Times)
One day after a school board member called for her to step down amid mounting District turmoil, Broward Public Schools Chief Operations Officer Wanda Paul has tendered her resignation.
She’s officially leaving June 5. But she plans for her last day in office to be on April 3 “to allow for an orderly transition and continuity of operations.”
“I believe it is time for me to transition to the next chapter of my life,” Paul said in a short letter to Superintendent Howard Hepburn that included a list of projects she said were completed under her leadership.
Since Paul came on as Broward COO in early 2024, she said, the district completed 199 projects, “strengthened processes and advanced key initiatives that support safe, efficient, and high-quality learning environments.”
“While there is no doubt that important work remains, I am confident the district is on a stronger path because of the dedication and professionalism of this team,” she said.
Events that led to Paul’s pending departure suggest otherwise. In recent weeks, audits and media reports have detailed breakdowns in how staff under Paul mishandled a major construction oversight procurement tied to the district’s $125 million capital program. An audit found procedures were bypassed, required evaluations were skipped and the school board was not properly informed, leading to a rushed and legally questionable process now facing collapse.
The controversy followed an earlier firestorm over a since-terminated $2.6 million office lease that drew a lawsuit from the district’s former landlord.
Hepburn, who took office last year amid lingering fallout from past Broward Schools debacles, has acknowledged the district’s struggles but largely urged patience as reviews continue.
Enrollment has dropped by roughly 10,000 students in the past year, contributing to an $85 million budget shortfall. District leaders are also weighing 34 school closures, staff reductions and program cuts.
Citing those quandaries, the lease issue and the construction procurement fiasco — described by board members Jeff Holness and Allen Zeman, respectively, as an “existential threat” and “five-alarm fire” — board member Adam Cervera publicly demanded that Paul step down on Sunday.
“This is not about politics or blame,” said Cervera, whom Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed to the board in April. “It is about restoring trust.”
Paul acquiesced Monday, promising to support “a smooth transition in any way that is helpful.”
A University of St. Thomas graduate with a master’s degree in business administration, Paul took over in May 2024 as Broward Public Schools COO, a post in which she earns an annual salary of about $221,500.
She came to the job following COO positions from May 2017 to January 2024 at the Palm Beach County School District and the Houston Independent School District Foundation. She resigned from the latter job after the Texas Education Agency took over the district due to what the Texas Tribune described as “years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus and allegations of leadership misconduct” that led to “extraordinary staff turnover and plummeting enrollment.”
According to the Houston Chronicle, which first reported on the takeover, Paul announced on LinkedIn that after her resignation from the Houston Independent School District Foundation became effective, she planned to work as an education consultant at Paul Consulting Group LLC.
Paul registered an identically named company with the Florida Division of Corporations in March 2021. It was administratively dissolved in September 2022. Whether she resurrects it remains to be seen.
Florida Politics contacted Paul for comment but received no response.
