Putnam superintendent reports ongoing FDLE review after audit flagged mileage reimbursements

Superintendent Whitehurst reported to the Putnam County School Board on Dec. 16 that the district has continued a post‑audit review of mileage reimbursements identified in an Auditor General report and has referred findings to state authorities.

"From the time period that is in the audit report of February 2020 through June 2025 of the mileage reimbursements that are in question, there were 39 reimbursements submitted," Whitehurst said. "Of those 39, there are 5 that have definitive supporting documentation that shows the district vehicle was used and so, therefore, the reimbursement should not have occurred. However, the other 34, there are no definitive records that confirm or refute the district vehicle use during those mileage reimbursement time periods."

Whitehurst said the district reported the findings to the Florida Department of Education Office of Professional Practices because the employee in question (Mister Bowling) holds a teaching certificate. She said local law enforcement had been contacted earlier and the case was turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), which the superintendent said is investigating and has shared information that corroborates some district findings.

Because the employee voluntarily separated from the district before interviews could be conducted, the superintendent said disciplinary investigations tied to employment could not proceed, but the district completed a document review that included mileage submissions, fuel reports, toll invoices and P‑card transactions.

Board members expressed concern and asked for further safeguards. One board member said similar misuse of vehicles had occurred in the past and urged that travel forms and internal controls be strengthened; others emphasized the need to identify why the mistakes happened and how to prevent recurrence.

Whitehurst told the board the district will provide additional updates after FDLE and the Office of Professional Practices complete their reviews. No personnel action or final determinations were announced at the meeting.

(Reporting note: the district referred the matter to FDLE and the Office of Professional Practices; Whitehurst described the status as an ongoing investigation.)