The Superintendent of St. Lucie Public Schools got into hot water for using his school credit card for personal use when he was the principal of Palm Beach Garden High School.
Between 2008-2009, Jonathan Prince earned $113,157.00 as principal of Palm Beach Gardens High School.
An investigation revealed Prince used the school's credit card for family meals, gift cards, tuxedo rentals, and gas for his car. He even took his wife to dinner and ordered room service at a Hilton Head, N.C. hotel.
Police investigators determined Prince dined at Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Outback, and Hooters and bought expensive gift cards, roses and candy. He spent $195.59 on a steak dinner for him and his wife.
Prince told school police he did not clearly understand what the card could and could not be used for. "I'm disappointed. I didn't pay as much attention as I should of," Prince told investigators during an interview. "It's my responsibility ultimately because I'm the principal," Prince stated.
Palm Beach County School District Police submitted a Probable Cause Affidavit to the State Attorney to charge Prince with an Organized Scheme to Defraud.
To avoid jail, as part of a deal with the Palm Beach
State's Attorney's Office to enter into an 18-month deferred prosecution program, Prince admitted to the improper purchases, wrote an apology letter, reimbursed the district, and agreed to complete 100 hours of community service.
"I rationalized things in my mind to convince myself my behavior was OK," Prince wrote in his apology letter. "I know now it wasn't."
The Palm Beach County School Board demoted Prince and suspended him without pay for 20 days.
The State of Florida Education Practices Commission issued Prince a letter of reprimand and ordered him to pay a $500 fine and serve three years of probation. They found him guilty of gross immorality and personal conduct, which seriously reduces his effectiveness as an employee of the school board, and ruled that he violated the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession.
In a reprimand letter from the Education Practices Commission, the Presiding Officer, Mike Strauss wrote, "This panel, composed of your peers, believes that, as an administrator, you are required to exercise a measure of leadership beyond reproach. By your actions, you have lessened the reputation of all who practice our profession. This profession cannot condone your actions, nor can the public who employ us."
'The Education Practices Commission sincerely hopes it is your intention to never allow this situation to occur again or indeed, to violate any professional obligation in fulfilling your responsibilities as an educator. To violate the standards of the profession will surely result in further action being taken aganist you."
The Department of Education gave Prince an additional 100 hours of community service and ordered him to take two-college level financial management classes.
Disgraced in 2013, Prince moved and took a job in Orlando as a principal, and he found trouble there too.
While Prince was assigned as principal of Colonial High School in 2015, an Orange County Public Schools Director initiated an investigation against him for a Code of Civility Violation via email communication with staff.
An investigation revealed that Prince emailed staff regarding hall passes and warned them about non-compliance with his order, "Now, before I fly off the rails as someone, I want to make it clear that this shouldn't happen. It is now in writing. Therefore, If I see it I will address it directly with you, and that is not going to go well for you if that is the case. I hope you get my point," Prince wrote to the staff. He finished the email with, "Be on your toes today."
Prince acknowledged using a "poor choice of words" and apologized "if the email came across as it was not
intended." He received a counseling regarding communication
After problems in Orlando, Prince moved again, and Dr. Wayne Gent hired him at the St. Lucie County School District. He began serving as Deputy Superintendent in 2015.
When Dr. Gent announced his retirement in February 2022, the School Board voted 4-1 to select Prince as the next Superintendent without hiring a search consultant to consider other candidates. Jennifer Richardson cast the lone dissenting vote.
When community members brought Prince's past to the attention of School Board member Troy Ingersoll and encouraged him to consider other candidates, he responded, " We knew about this seven years ago when Mr. Gent hired him. Dr. Prince learned from this incident, and it make him more sympathetic to those that male the same mistakes. Dr. Price also told the board at the time about the misspending too."
In February, School Board Member Jennifer Richardson requested that Prince support her initiative to give kids in predominantly black schools cupcakes to celebrate Black History Month. Prince opposed the idea, and at a School Board Workshop Meeting on February 28th, Prince confronted Richardson about her set of goals separate from the boards.
Richardson brought up her less-than-favorable evaluation of Prince's performance and revealed that Prince wanted to charge her for records requests.
On January 10, 2023, Give Back 2 Kids, Inc. entered a Facilities Use Agreement with St. Lucie County to lease Illous Ellis Park for an "MLK Family Fun Day Festival & Car Show" on January 16, 2023, from noon until 6:00 pm.
According to state records, James Monds, a Director at Palm Beach District Schools and a former candidate for the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners, serves as President of Give Back 2 Kids, Inc.
In the Facilities Use Agreement, Monds assured county staff that there would be no alcohol sales at the event, a maximum of 150 people would attend, and security would be present.
Monds submitted a certificate of liability insurance from Be Xquisit with the Facilities Use Agreement and
separately assured the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office that four armed security officers from Elite Tactical Solutions would be present at the event.
According to state records, Tiffany Burrell, a St. Lucie County Planning and Development Sr. Staff Assistant, is the registered agent and manager of Be Xquisit.
Before the event started, Monds and Burrell canceled security and never notified the county of the Sheriff's Office. On the day of the event, more than 500 people showed up, and Beer Truck was at the park selling alcohol.
During the event, gang violence erupted, and gunfire rang out. Seven people were shot, and a 29-year-old mother was killed in the violence.
On January 26, 2023, Parks and Recreation Director Matt Baum sent notice to Monds and Burrell regarding the flagrant violations of the Facility Use Agreement. Based on the violations, Monds, Back 2 Kids, Inc, Burrell, Be Xquisit LLC, or any other entity of which Monds or Burrell is an officer is prohibited from leasing any County Facility.
The City of Fort Pierce kicked the Incubate Neighborhood Center out of the historic Means Court Elementary School Building in Lincoln Park less than one year after its grand opening.
On February 2, 2021, Incubate Neighborhood Center , Inc. was registered as a not-for-profit corporation with the Florida Department of Revenue Division of Corporations.
Within months, Incubate received a $25,000 grant from Allegany Franciscan Ministries, a catholic charity, and
the support of Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson to receive Economic Development Grant money from the City.
City of Fort Pierce Risk Manager Sheritta Johnson, who served on the Board of Directors for Incubate, was instrumental in securing nearly $600,000 in funding so Incuabte could open a community learning center called the Hub at the historic Means Court Elementary School Lincoln Park.
After signing a 20-year lease with the City for Means Court, Incubate held its Grand opening in April 2022.
After signing a 20-year lease with the City for Means Court, Incubate held its Grand opening in April 2022.
Soon after, questions over city-wide spending over Allegany Ministries funds surfaced.
On February 1, 2023, the City of Fort Pierce notified Incubate must immediately cease operations and vacate Means Court because its Temporary Use Agreement had expired.
On February 24th, Incubate posted on Facebook that its facility was closed due to, “Ongoing maintenance issues.”
