A middle school principal is under criminal investigation over what he did with thousands of dollars in school money, officials said.
Principal Leon McCants claims he used thousands of dollars on gift cards for teachers and students, but as Channel 9's Shannon Butler found out, his claims do not add up.
McCants is principal at Teague Middle School.
The school district investigation has been turned over to police.
McCants appeared in video that was shown to students to help teach them about money, he said, “I am so excited, because our kids will get to encounter real life situations and make informed decisions on financial responsibility.”
But his spending on a district credit card is in question.
Purchases at Macy's, JC Penny's and the Burlington Coat Factory were scrutinized.
But that's not all: A bracelet engraved at Things Remembered also raised eyebrows.
McCants said during the investigation that the bracelet was a retirement gift for one of his employees.
But the engraving investigators found said “The Big 40.”
The said-employee never got the gift, and in the end, McCants admitted he bought it for a friend.
But the bulk of the investigation showed that he bought at least 164 gift cards that he handed out to students and teachers.
But officials said many of the purchases were against policy, and the school district said the math just did not add up.
Cards from Chick-fil-A, Subway and Panera were handed out, but McCants said the records were "loosey-goosey."
McCants said he didn't keep a log because it took away from the meaning and intent of giving the card. He also said he used some himself.
However, there are few answers to where all the cards went.
In the end, the school district found there was possible misappropriation of funds, and the investigation shows McCants offered to pay back $4,000 to "make it go away."
McCants did not release a comment to Channel 9.
But McCants wrote a letter to the school board claiming the investigation has a biased and subjective tone to his integrity as principal.
He wrote: "While something as simple as a gift card seems trivial, it has slowly begun to transform this campus, students, faculty, staff and volunteers alike. It is my belief that a "small" thank you goes a long way to boost morale and allow others to know and feel appreciated."
Seminole County has not finished its investigation.
Cox Media Group
