Broward School Board auditors say a secret slush fund at South Plantation High School existed for over ten years. The Sun-Sentinel reports the fund contained between $200,000 and $350,000 over the years. The school even opened a $75,000 investment fund.

Current South Area superintendent Joel Herbst (juice plus) oversaw the fund while principal at South Plantation 2000-2008.

South Plantation High School is in Maureen Dinnen’s school board district. What does Mo Dinnen have to say about this?

No surprise, Donnie Carter, (poorly) acting superintendent, says Herbst will not face any disciplinary action for managing a super secret fund which violates a whole bunch of rules. This is Broward County.

“The fund, which mixed some district money with fundraising proceeds, was managed by the Parent Teacher Student Organization, a group outside the authority of district auditors. It was used for about three years by current principal David Basile, and from 2000 to 2006 by Joel Herbst, who is now an area superintendent supervising some principals.

Basile flagged the account to auditors last year after concerns were raised by the PTO president, and it was later closed at Basile’s request. He declined to comment for this article.

Herbst said he was not aware that the school’s use of the account violated district and state policies.

“Certainly, if I was aware I would have immediately taken appropriate measures to correct the deficiency,” Herbst wrote in an email to the Sun Sentinel.

Interim Superintendent Donnie Carter said neither Basile or Herbst would face disciplinary action. He called the district’s policies “straightforward,” and said administrators should ensure that they are followed.”