Palm Beach County school band director suspended

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A Palm Beach County school band director is facing a 7 day suspension after the district discovered he used thousands of school funds to provide trips to Paris for his family.

The discovery came after a special audit investigation was launched on Ernest Brown at Suncoast High School.

Brown is said to have taken his wife, son, two daughters, niece and nephew on a 2008 trip by spending nearly $15,000 of the school's money, and ran up a $107,895 total deficit in the band program, using the money on two international band trips.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel , auditors found that then-Principal Gloria Crutchfield emptied other school accounts to help cover the costs. Crutchfield, who is now a district director, also went on the Paris trip for free using school money, according to the audit.

The Palm Beach County School Board is expected to vote on the recommended suspension for Brown at it's Wednesday afternoon meeting.

Read the suspension letter

Summary