MIAMI (WSVN) - A former Miami school principal has been arrested for allegedly using school funds to pay for his personal housekeeping and childcare services.
Forty-eight-year-old Joey Bautista, who worked at Miami Jackson Senior High School’s Adult Education Center, was charged with grand theft, fraud and official misconduct, Wednesday.
Authorities said Bautista hired a custodian to work at the school, but she instead wound up working as his nanny and housekeeper at his home while being paid by Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Over $40,000 of school funds were used to pay for her services.
“The alleged misuse of school funds to pay for childcare and housekeeping services is an absolute betrayal of trust,” said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
M-DCPS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho released a statement saying in part, “Miami-Dade County Public Schools initiated dismissal proceedings immediately following his arrest … We will not tolerate the type of unscrupulous behavior by employees that betrays the trust of our community and belies the core values of the school district.”
Bautista is being held on a $45,000 bond.
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