Newberry Head Football Coach received letter of reprimand for using booster club funds to pay personal cell phone bill

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Newberry Head Football Coach Edward Johnson received a written reprimand after an investigation into his use of booster club funds to pay his personal cell phone bill.

On January 31, 2024, the treasurer of the Newberry Quarterback Club reported to Newberry High School Principal James Sheppard that Johnson had improperly used booster club funds to pay his personal cell phone bill. Sheppard notified the Alachua County Public Schools Human Resources Department of the allegations on February 1, and Johnson was placed on administrative leave with pay during the investigation.

According to the booster club treasurer, Johnson admitted using the booster club’s debit card to pay his personal cell phone bill, and the treasurer gave him a week to tell Sheppard about the misappropriation of funds. However, according to the investigation report, Johnson did not speak with Sheppard, and after waiting a week, the treasurer reported the incident to Sheppard. The treasurer also told Sheppard that Johnson had her booster club debit card.

Principal Sheppard told the investigator that he spoke with Johnson after learning about the allegation, and he said Johnson took responsibility for using funds inappropriately and acknowledged that paying a personal bill with booster funds was not in line with proper procedures. Sheppard told the investigator that Johnson said he had reimbursed the booster club.

The investigator reviewed the booster club’s financial reports and found one charge for $356.29 to Verizon. The investigator noted, “It is important to note that only officials of the Boosters should have access to the cards, and it is not good to hand over the card to the coach. There should be two signatures in order to complete purchases.”

In an interview with the investigator, Johnson reportedly admitted using booster funds to pay his personal cell phone bill; he said he received a notification that the phone was about to be turned off, and his phone was “ringing nonstop” because university coaches were contacting him about recruiting his student-athletes. He said he told the treasurer the same day he used the card and promised to pay back the booster club the next week when he got paid.

Johnson told the investigator, “I was thinking it was business. I have brought more than $356 to the Boosters, so I didn’t think it was a big deal.” He said this was the only time he had used booster funds for personal expenses, but he was “under the assumption that it would be fine” and said that “everything was done for his boys.”

The Investigations Review Committee met on February 23 and found that there was probable cause for disciplinary action against Johnson for violating school board policies regarding ethical conduct and improper handling of funds.

On March 1, ACPS Human Resources Executive Director David Shelnutt sent a letter to Johnson, notifying him that he was being issued a written reprimand and reminding him “that you have a responsibility to maintain the highest ethical standards possible.” Johnson was also required to take Professional Development Training.

Johnson returned to work as a Physical Education teacher once the investigation was complete, but he was fired from his position as Head Football Coach; after an outcry from the community and a petition that attracted 1,259 signatures, Johnson was reinstated as Head Football Coach.

  • So….if you work for the Alachua county schools you can steal with very little consequences?

    • Hardly. If the coach os using his personal phone for company/booster/advancing students interests beyond high school, he should be compensated for that or ACPW or the boosters should provide him a phone or at least pay a portion if the bill.

      • Stormy D, you are probably right. They should be. But that would have to be set up and approved by the boosters in advance.

        There are too many people who believe the rules don’t apply to them.

  • Wait…so the coach used funds he should not have used. Was given time to right his wrong and chose not to. Admitted what he did was wrong and yet he still came out looking like the victim?!? Ain’t America great!

  • Theft is theft no matter how you play it out. He admitted to using money that wasn’t his to pay a cell phone bill because it was going to be shut off and he needed to be a big shot with the college coaches. What’s next car payment, electric bill.

  • If you know Coach and how he treats the players, this would not have occurred to be out of line. Especially if he has a relationship with the treasurer on an informal level which is probably the case too. I have no reason he meant anything other than good intentions.

    • I cannot wait for Newberry to take over the schools. The new policy of “if is with good intentions it ain’t a crime in Newberry skools” will set such a good example for your children when they get out of school.
      I am so sure the police will buy the argument “I have good intentions to buy food for my family, so it was not a crime when I robbed that bank.”
      “Good Intentions”, the Newberry “Get Out of Jail Free” card.

  • Do you all know how many times a teacher is asked by parents to text and send information to them regarding their child? A teacher does these things to keep the communication between the parents and the school. Teachers never ask for reimbursement but since it is job related maybe we should.

  • I think one of Kamala’s Venn diagrams would work here. Wrong is wrong but it’s not like he used the money for some plastic surgery, a vacay or designer clothes. He used it to pay a bill for work related costs. He should have asked first, because he didn’t, it’s theft and theft is wrong. Strike 1 on his record, pay it back with interest, apologize and move on.

    • Clearly you missed it where it was stated that he indeed did pay it back, he paid it back before the investigation:))

  • Everything, and I mean everything in this life is ALL about communication.

  • This guys a ‘teacher’ and ‘coach’? Jeeze…..nice lesson he’s teaching. Newberry, Santa Fe, St. Pat’s…..what’s going on in Alachua County?

  • The Natalie Scrappy is the treasurer for QB club let it be known she give Johnson permission to used the Card. This woman is trying to discredit and destroy the club credibility. She didn’t follow the proper protocol of handling this matter. She act alone and now this reporter mentioned everyone name but hers.

    The reporter need facts check because if you truly wanted the story you should have contacted all board members.
    Yes what the coach did was wrong but he was told and given the card by her to used it. We are all missing that part.. and pointing fingers.
    JENNIFER CABRERA I suggest you interview the right people and found out what and how this started.

    • I invite you to request a copy of the public records on this investigation. The treasurer did NOT give permission to use her credit card to pay a personal cell phone bill. She was only notified AFTERWARDS the card was used for that purpose. The card information had only been given for the sole purpose to pay for a Coaching Clinic reservation.

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