Oregon Public Broadcasting

Two administrators at one of Portland's more troubled high schools are on paid administrative leave, on the heels of a critical financial audit. Rob Manning has more.

Portland Public Schools' audit points out multiple cases of improper recordkeeping at Jefferson High School.

It accuses principal Cynthia Harris and business manager Reis Willibanks of allowing fund balances to go into the red, and not spending donations the way donors wanted. Large donations weren't reported to the district, as required.

At one point, the auditor says Harris and Willibanks justified their actions with a hand-written note from a former district leader allegedly saying that rules at Jefferson are different from other high schools.

District spokesman, Robb Cowie.

Robb Cowie: "As a result, we've launched an investigation to further explore the financial situation there."

Deputy superintendent – and former Grant High principal, Toni Hunter – has taken over as principal at Jefferson in the interim.