Former Fernandina Beach High School principal accused of stealing from basketball ticket funds

Jacksonville, FL — A month after the resignation of Fernandina Beach High School Principal Dr. Spencer Lodree, new details are emerging about the circumstances.

According to a statement from the Nassau County School District, Lodree is accused of stealing funds from the sale of tickets to a Fernandina Beach High School basketball game earlier this year.

We’re told two Fernandina Beach High School employees initially began to suspect that funds were missing on January 29th, 2018, and alerted the school resource officer, which prompted a full investigation by the Fernandina Beach Police Department.

The statement says on February 5th, 2018, Lodree admitted to taking the funds and subsequently submitted his resignation.

Nassau County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns says she was 'shocked' and 'deeply saddened' to learn about the events that led to Lodree's resignation. The statement also adds that their were no red flags in Lodree's background and no warning signs in his behavior.

The district says they have already recovered the stolen money through a deduction to Lodree's final paycheck. Action News Jax says the stolen money amounted to $1,300.

The theft has also been reported to the Florida Department of Education's Office of Professional Practices, however, it's not clear if Lodree will face any criminal charges.