By Florida Daily Investments
FORT LAUDERDALE — As school districts enter a new calendar year, what once might have been put off as a “transition issue” is solidifying as an inevitable leadership test for school boards.
RFQ 26-059’s debacle was initially attributed to a procurement error under Superintendent Howard Hepburn, but a clearer narrative has now settled on it. It’s an organizational failure by Chief Operating Officer Wanda Paul, and an oversight failure to allow her to leave on terms that critics say protect leadership rather than the public interest.
As daily operations resume and emergency procurement decisions are made, the question within the district is no longer what happened, but why decisive action was delayed and by whom.
Resignation that is delayed without being resolved
Paul’s resignation, which was quietly submitted and structured to extend her presence until 2026, has become the focus of fresh scrutiny now that the year-end hiatus has ended.
In his letter, Paul writes:
“Please accept this letter as my official resignation as Director of Operations, effective June 5th.
To allow for an orderly transition and continuity of operations, my last day in the office will be April 3, 2026. ”
What initially seemed like an administrative courtesy to some is now seen by many board members and district observers as a controlled outlet for deferring accountability at the very moment the district should be accountable.
As audit results are no longer new news but established records, tolerance for delays has significantly decreased.
Operational pressure, legal withdrawal
The core findings of an audit only grow in importance over time.
Assistant Attorney General Tom Cooney initially advised that the district could not proceed because all three proponents did not meet essential financial requirements. This advice was only reversed after consultation with Wanda Paul. This fact was documented by auditors and has been a source of post-holiday board discussion ever since.
From there, the process unraveled as follows.
• Mandatory financial standards have been waived.
• Scoring and rankings are abolished;
• The Qualifications Selection and Assessment Committee (QSEC) was directed to be removed from its statutory role.
“This wasn’t chaos. There was momentum,” one board member said privately after the holidays.
COO Judgment – Fully Evaluate Now
With time for reflection and fewer political distractions, the extent of Paul’s failure is being reassessed more openly.
As COO, she didn’t just inherit a broken process; She directed it as follows:
• moving forward with an RFQ without board review;
• Continuing despite not meeting essential standards;
• Look for workarounds rather than stopping procurement altogether.
This attitude, one that solves problems through workarounds rather than compliance, is now widely characterized within the district as incompatible with continued administrative authority.
Her resignation is an acknowledgment of that reality. Built-in delays are not.
Superintendent’s judgment returns to focus
With Paul’s role decided, the focus shifted decisively to Superintendent Hepburn’s response, or lack thereof.
Board members and observers have begun to question why Mr. Hepburn accepted the following resignation regime after the audit’s conclusions became known.
• Paul is tasked with overseeing emergency procurement related to his failed RFQ.
• Can affect relationships with vendors involved in the collapse.
• Demonstrate continuity when reform is the goal.
In conversations after the holidays, it is said that the superintendent’s decision is no longer pragmatic, but permissive.
“If there is an urgent need for accountability, this is not the way out,” said one district monitor.
Neutralizing QSEC – No answer yet
The audit’s findings, which effectively nullified QSEC’s legal role, remain unresolved and increasingly central.
The members are:
• If no proposal has been provided in advance;
• A pre-drafted motion is presented;
• You will be guided to exempt scores and rankings.
The auditor concluded that the deficiencies could not be remedied.
Governance experts say the seriousness of that conclusion has become clearer over time. The question is no longer whether it was inappropriate, but why those responsible were allowed to remain in charge.
We need to take action now – now!
As the district reopens in January in the face of emergency contracts, contractor skepticism and public scrutiny, arguments for Paul’s immediate removal will only intensify.
Allowing her to remain through a prolonged “transition” means:
• The failure architect participates in its correction.
• Accountability is deferred rather than demonstrated.
• And a leader’s credibility erodes further with each passing week.
What could have been defended as temporary stabilization in December looks more like a dodge in late December.
narrowing window
The political environment has changed.
The Westside Gazette and other news outlets continue to report on the issue, and community patience is wearing thin, especially in districts that once gave Mr. Hepburn the benefit of the doubt.
Officials said the leave and grace period had ended.
Bottom line: The calendar has changed. It is necessary to respond accordingly.
RFQ 26-059 didn’t collapse overnight.
And liability will not be restored by a delayed exit or a managed transition.
Wanda Paul’s resignation confirms the failure.
The conditions for his resignation reveal the leadership’s judgment.
The audit revealed the facts.
The pause allowed for reflection.
This time it’s a test.
Because the delay is no longer neutral after the holidays.
