Copyright 2023 TheAssociated Press. Some Lee County School Board members are disappointed and concerned now that the superintendentwill be elected instead of appointed by the board. The hiring of Bernier, who makes $255,000a year,started in the summerof 2021and concluded upon his hiring in March2022. The Florida dismissals came on the heels of a showdown in Berkeley County, S.C. in which six new school board members, endorsed by the local chapter of Moms for Liberty, voted to fire their superintendent just hours after they were sworn in, according to NBC News. Dr. Mark Rendell is elected as the new Brevard County school superintendent. Husfelt said communities need to set standards and find ways to let superintendents do their jobs. School Board Superintendent, elected incumbent's term, Office of the Attorney General One of the uncertainties about the broad critical race theory, gender issues, more conservative uprisings weve seen recently theyre fueled by anger and a sense of resentment on the part of some families, Henig said, but they dont have a clear governance message about what should happen after we get the bad guys out.. Leon County is also where in March the school board forced a principal to resign after parents complained that sixth graders were shown photos of Michelangelo's David. Why is this happening? Tuesday set an unofficial record for the hottest day on Earth. "You're simply moving the power from the school board to the general population," Montford said. They can suggest it. Jacob Ogles August 17, 2021 6 min elected superintendent Jenna Persons-Mulicka Kenneth Savage 2024 - Presidential 2024 - Presidential The last time Lee County voters weighed in on the issue was. ORLANDO, Fla. - Whether choosing to resign or being ousted by newly-elected school boards, superintendent turnover continues to grow among Florida school districts. FILE - Florida Gov. He is the man to do it.". Hes planning to leave his elected post in July, more than a year before his term expires. Messina also highlighted some of the items the school board will no longer need with an elected superintendent, such as a job description and performance goals. Thirty-eight school districts inFlorida have an elected superintendent. "You are joyful warriors. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was an increase in anti-government militias, such as the patriot movement, the Freemen and Posse Comitatus. The selection of Broward County schools' new superintendent was supposed to be a fresh start, the turning of a page, a step towards stability. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050. Sometimes we have seen elected superintendents who take leave when wanted whether its convenient or not, Messina said. "Because many people know and love the book To Kill a Mockingbird, rating it was intended to be used as a reference point to showcase the rating system," a member of Utah's Mary in the Library group shares in the slideshow. Stay up to date with what you want to know. How are we going to address it? Nikki Ross covers education for the Fort Myers News-Press and Naples Daily News. But Giovannelli said the result of the election was a direct reflection of what the public thinks of what the school board doesor does not do. Her letter was stamped Let's Go Brandon, a code used by some conservatives to replace a vulgar chant made against President Joe Biden. Lee County is considered a large district, serving roughly 95,000 students. What we are also finding is many people who have trained and want to make a difference are pausing right now.. The seating for about 120 people was full, and there were some attendees left standing. vulgar chant made against President Joe Biden, as required after the 2018 Parkland high school massacre, Los Angeles Police Arrest Suspect in Apparent Random Shootings at 3 Locations With 1 Person Wounded, Y2K Fashion Has Taken Over. Most of Floridas 67 superintendents remain elected, but most of the larger districts in Florida have moved to appointing instead, so most students attend school in districts with appointed leaders. Hanna received a letter from Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. earlier this month saying an investigation found probable cause that he violated a 2021 DeSantis directive barring districts from mandating that students wear COVID-19 masks. When people have concerns about decisions being made by their elected officials, they should contact them directly.. Events like SRQs Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Floridas most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. Since November, the chief administrators in Broward, Brevard, Flagler, Collier, Sarasota, Escambia and Duval counties have been fired or pushed to leave. The SPLC has been researching right-wing groups and those who oppose civil rights like the Ku Klux Klan for more than 50 years. Messina said every year the superintendent can get an additional $2,000. Remind of a policy. While the tension between parents and school districts isnt novel, Henig said, the GOPs coordinated involvement in local education politics has added a new layer. We could pretend that this is happening in a vacuum, one parent said at a Brevard County School Board meeting this month. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Carlee Simon is superintendent of . The theme of Casey DeSantis' message was shrinking government by whittling down the bureaucracy and cutting red tape. News / The Education Gradebook Elected or appointed? You Are an Outgoing Elected Officer? There are five chapters across the state and more than 200 across the country. "We wanted age-appropriate materials in our schools and for parents to have access to knowing what is in the library.". University of South Florida. Main telephone numbers for the school districts are also listed and in some cases are the same as the superintendents' numbers. After a former superintendent sparred with the state over a COVID-19 mask mandate, the delegation began discussing whether an elected superintendent would be a better fit. Florida Association of District School Superintendents . Brevard Public Schools is a school district serving Brevard County, Florida, and based in Viera, Florida.. Florida superintendent faces potential job loss after criticizing Governor DeSantis. article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } I want to be very clear about that., Put down some guidelines. School Board Member Betsy Vaughn said she voted no for the referendum. Education department spokesman Alex Lanfranconi said in a statement that while officials would not discuss the Hanna investigation in detail, nothing about this case is special.. Florida is threatening to remove an elected school superintendent who has been critical of Gov. School Superintendent Who Criticized DeSantis Could Lose Job Others are saying weve got some of the best superintendents in the country, and were removing them (unnecessarily) from positions.. The process for hiring a superintendent is typically a lengthy one. "It's all over the news because we are known as book banners, when that is not the case," Turner said. In a letter to Hanna, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. said the department had cause to "justify sanctions against your Florida educator certificate," according to the outlet. And in Hernando County, Superintendent John Stratton survived a no-confidence vote this past week as the two right-leaning members of his board couldnt convince a third colleague to back them up. But others, like Melisa Giovannelli, are supportive of the change. . Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL. Brevard Federation of Teachers President Anthony Colucci did not return calls and emails seeking comment. DeSantis suspended four school board members and replaced them with his appointees. All of the emotion, chaos and mud-slinging that has infiltrated Florida school board meetings over the last two years seemed to finally boil over on a Tuesday night in November. The threatened revocation was first reported by the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign. After sitting through his boards confidence vote, Hernando superintendent Stratton said he hoped to reset the districts direction, working with the board and community. Leon County School Superintendent Rocky Hanna said Monday morning that, after requesting flexibility from the governor's office and receiving no response, schools in his district will start the . You keep it from the public, and then you say you have a mandate to do this? Right-sizing the Hillsborough school system must remain a priority | Column, High schools seek plays that meet state laws on race, gender, Parental rights group Moms for Liberty plans nationwide strategy for school board races in 2024. Diaz also cited a memo Hanna issued before this school year telling teachers, You do You! and to teach the way they always had, allegedly giving instructors approval to ignore new laws enacted by DeSantis and the Legislature. Its just that some parents dont want the same thing as other parents, said Jeffrey Henig, a professor of political science and education at the Teachers College at Columbia University. The Sarasota County School Board, with its newly minted conservative majority, had begun the process of firing Superintendent Brennan Asplen an abrupt move that none of the candidates had campaigned on. He has completed the Chief Executive Officers Leadership Development Program . Before any punishment is meted out, Hanna can have a hearing before an administrative judge, attempt to negotiate a settlement or surrender his license. Villarejo's name had been circulating in the Spanish press for years. Superintendent of Public Instruction (the governor) and Chief Education Officer O R. R EV. Were always doing this nonsense, all the time, Asplen said during a 30-minute impassioned monologue defending his two-year tenure. Unlike school board races,the race for superintendent will be partisan, according toAguirre. School Superintendents . Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182 That would take power away from the School Board, said Roach, who has butted heads with the district on issues like transgender bathroom access. Four facts about elected vs. appointed superintendents Her bill only puts the matter on the ballot. DeSantis is expected to soon announce that he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Biden in next year's election. Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. Personal details. "One of the reasons we are worried about the movement is it's focused on our most precious folks, our youth," she said. These groups were more explicitly racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic, Carroll Rivas said, but those sentiments are on the rise again. Its not., From Tuesday night:Collier County School Board to discuss ousting superintendent Kamela Patton. In Northeast Florida, four counties have opted to appoint school superintendents: Alachua, Duval, Flagler and St. Johns. Messina also shared that an elected superintendent may also have their own legal council, which might want to be addressed in a separate policy. As a result of the voter mandate, the qualifications will change for an elected superintendent. "We recognized in 1974 that that was not the best option," Fisher said. Teachers and students, and their parents, must be able to trust that no matter what their political persuasion they will be taught and respected equally.. Its without a doubt, Domenech said, one of the most difficult times to run a school district if not the most difficult time to run a school district in our lifetimes.. Subscribe to our free Gradebook newsletter. A referendum placed on the ballot by the Legislature that changes how the school chief is selected ultimately passed . At the same meeting, the board voted to ban critical race theory, a college-level academic concept that generally isnt taught in grade school but has become a catch-all term for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Brevard Public Schools - Wikipedia 7 moments from that rowdy Hernando school board meeting this week. Thomas was appointed superintendent in June 2018. It can be rewarding, but the decisions they make can also be especially difficult and taxing. All rights reserved. "So I'm disappointed that the referendum passed.". Montford said that is a well-founded concern. Most of them are salt-of-the earth people. The organization was founded in 2021 in response to COVID-19 lockdowns and mask requirements. As school board candidates backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign. Advertisement Thursday's event marks a new effort by the DeSantis campaign to close ground with former President Donald Trump by leaning on Casey DeSantis to appeal to influential parental-rights organizations. The superintendent must raise money, campaign and be elected, she said, adding that the senior staff has a vested interest one way or another in the outcome of an election. Kathryn Varn is statewide enterprise reporter for the Gannett/USA TODAY Network Florida. Ron DeSantis, accusing the educator of violating several statutes and DeSantis directives and allowing his personal political views to guide his leadership. He started his career as a social studies teacher before taking on a number of leadership roles. The biggest change, according to Montford, is that the school board won't have the power to fire a superintendent at any given time. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Wednesday may break it. JOHNSTON, Iowa, July 6 (UPI) -- Florida first lady Casey DeSantis revived a 2022 state campaign movement on a national scale Thursday, launching Mamas for DeSantis in Iowa to drum up support for her husband Gov. Andrea Messina, executive director of the Florida School Boards Association, said her organizations superintendent search division has seen interest dwindle in openings. "I believe the power needs to be with the people.". Appointed and Elected Superintendents in Florida's Governance At the same time, he criticized the two members who targeted him and rejected some of the assertions they made, such as the notion that teachers are indoctrinating students. Court resumes Floridas $100 billion in student debt. That made Stratton a rarity among Florida superintendents: Hes still standing. Over the past four years, Florida's 67 districts will have seen 61 new . Ron DeSantis. Should the superintendent of schools be accountable to a school board or the voters? But questions still plagued the process, about whether board members spoke about the votes outside of the sunshine of Floridas open meetings laws, and about why the men were targeted at all. In addition, the board was encouraged to schedule a protocol workshop to develop expectations of one another, communication with one another. Offering students a free day off of school to attend the rally is another example of (Hanna) failing to distinguish his political views from the standards taught in Florida schools, Diaz wrote. Having an elected superintendent will lead to more accountability, rather than being dependent on the School Board that chooses and hires, she said. Chris Cowart Faces Jerry Lawrence In Levy County Superintendent Race Ron DeSantis. They lauded the policies passed in each other's states and quipped that they borrow from one another in that regard. District names link to their respective websites. In 2015, the district had about 74,000 students. Across the state, Stratton is among five current board-appointed superintendents who held the same post in 2020. 326.300(1) and 326.010 Section 2(1) Virginia Secretary of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction V A C ODE A NN. Casey DeSantis launches national Mamas for DeSantis movement in - UPI Hanna was elected to a second four-year term in 2020 with 60% . Hanna has publicly opposed that law, once defied the governor's order that barred any mandate that students wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and criticized a DeSantis-backed bill that recently passed that will pay for students to attend private school. Lee, the ninth largest school district in Florida, would be the largest district in Florida to have an elected superintendent if voters chose to make the switch. Parental rights organizations have become a political player in recent years. PDF Salaries of Elected County Constitutional Officers and School District He can be reached at [emailprotected]. Education is in a state of transition, and the most obvious single visual demonstration of change is a new superintendent, Messina said, adding that concerns about job security are a factor. He plans to run for reelection next year and does not need a teacher's license to hold the job. The Republican governor did that last year to an elected Democratic prosecutor in the Tampa Bay area who disagreed with his positions limiting abortion and medical care for transgender teens and indicated he might not enforce new laws in those areas. Florida governor's office says state could withhold salaries of - CNN That includes the so-called Don't say Gay law, which supporters call the Parental Rights in Education Act.. Ron DeSantis. Should Florida's school superintendents be elected or appointed? Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, Wes Wolfe, and Mike Wright. Union representatives on Facebook thanked Mullins for his service and wrote they expect new leadership will focus on improving discipline and teacher/staff vacancies.. At least four Republican presidential candidates are scheduled to travel to Philadelphia later this month to speak at the annual gathering of Moms for Liberty, a Florida-based nonprofit that didn't exist in 2020 but that has become a power player in conservative politics ahead of the 2024 elections. Copyright Cape Coral Breeze | https://www.capecoralbreeze.com | 2510 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33904 | 239-574-1110, Elected superintendent will change school board dynamic, MEGHAN BRADBURY / news@breezenewspapers.com -, We have seen in some counties it can be anything from a doctorate degree to someone who has a GED. Rachel Carroll Rivas, deputy director of research, reporting and analysis for the SPLC's Intelligence Project, told UPI the designation is used for groups that tend to be conspiracy-theory driven and believe in a tyrannical one-world government. We have seen some court cases, or filings. PDF Florida Association of District School Superintendents - FADSS In Sarasota, reasons for Asplens dismissal included falling reading scores and problems with his leadership style and transparency. Roach acknowledged that, as with every election, theres a risk of electing an unqualified person. An "e" denotes those school districts having an elected school superintendent, according to the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS). We have to be careful, he said. Browards circumstances were different. "At the end of the day, it's about the will of the people," Giovannelli said. Not so fast . Florida school districts are losing superintendents. It's tough out there. Rocky Hanna wins Leon County Schools superintendent race Hanna required students to wear masks after a Leon third grader died of the disease early that school year. In 2009, the school board was Brevard's largest local government employer with 9,500 workers of whom 5,000 are teachers. Turner was there when Reynolds signed Senate File 496, a ban on discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in schools through sixth grade. They cannot be dismissed by the board for failure to carry out duties or violation of board policy, Messina said. From that point, the conversation was focused on the policy and the vision of a Ron DeSantis presidency, and how the mothers and grandmothers in attendance could help the Florida governor realize his goals. Ron DeSantis and Moms for Liberty gain a foothold across Florida, theyve targeted superintendents as barriers to their agenda. More:Leon County Schools Superintendent: A voter's guide to the 2020 general election Reach CD Davidson-Hiers at CDavidsonH@Tallahassee.com or 850-631-0958. The Sunday Read: 'The Spy Who Called Me' - The New York Times For example, Armor Persons received more than 50% of the vote during the primary this year, beating incumbent Gwynetta Gittens, the only other candidate in the nonpartisan race, for the School Board District 5 seat. Critics of the sudden rash of firings noted the trend. "There are pros and cons for both elected and appointed.". By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Police in Los Angeles have arrested a suspect following what appears to be a series of random shootings that wounded one victim, What comes to mind when you hear the phrase Y2K, With Earth breaking average heat records, cities are sure to be giving a fresh look at their readiness plans for temperatures that can kill. On the other side of the state, Brevard Countys new conservative majority took the same step as Sarasota with the help of members backed by Gov. Read more of WUFT's coverage of Florida Votes 2020 . "How this is being handled and the tactics the Florida Department of Education is using to create this 'investigation,' are certainly a serious cause for concern not just for myself, but for any superintendent or school employee in the state of Florida," Hanna told The Daily Beast. All rights reserved. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. They are most responsible for the successes of a district and most assuredly responsible when there are failures. uniformity, Florida's Attorney General opined in 2008 that a sheriff could not voluntarily reduce his or her salary below that established by law.4 However, in 2009, the Legislature authorized district school board members and elected school superintendents to reduce their salaries on a voluntary basis.5 Furthermore, in ", Elections: Lee County Superintendent referendum passes, position will now be elected, School Board Election: Langford-Fleming, Fisher and Jordan win Lee County School Board seats. Mamas for DeSantis rallied support for Ron DeSantis' Florida gubernatorial campaign last year. PL-01, The Capitol If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Its just a terrible thing they did.. (Information from County Archives of Florida - Number 16 - Duval County - Page 123 - Book No. Over the past four years, Floridas 67 districts will have seen 61 new superintendents by the time July 1 rolls around. She encouraged the board to think about an orientation or transition for a newly elected superintendent, as they might get someone who does not have any experience in education. Our belief is that public schools by their very nature are open to all, fair to all and committed to educating all, said Lee resident Madelon Stewart, the chairperson of a political committee opposing the referendum. US News is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings. Jordan said this could be a problem, as some candidates win in the primary. DeSantis accused of "retaliatory bullying" of Florida school - MSN After three years of leading . Moms For Liberty members volunteered at Thursday's event as they did when the campaign was last in central Iowa. We have seen lawsuits. And last month, Lee County voters approved a referendum to elect, rather than appoint, its superintendent, a move that critics worry makes permanent the injection of partisan politics in education. "It's a direct reflection of Tallahassee and the people who think that we weren't doing our jobs.". Lee County voters approve switch to elected Superintendents Ron DeSantis and the conservative parents group Moms for Liberty. He ran for school board in 2022 and received the group's endorsement, as well as $250 from its Florida-based PAC. But last week voters approved a referendum in Lee Countymaking the position elected. The job will go before voters in a partisan election starting in 2024. Of those, 41 are elected and 26 are appointed by the local school board. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Heritage Foundation 50th Anniversary Celebration leadership summit, Friday, April 21, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Md. School Board / Historical Information - Duval County Public Schools DeSantis scores big school board victories as most of his endorsed candidates win or advance, At Moms for Liberty summit in Florida, political strategy comes with a dose of conspiracy, How Florida turned red: Changing population, weak opposition, aggressive Gov. Obviously, there is a sizable percentage of our population that thinks what we are doing in Florida is long overdue, that now were going to get people in there who will listen to parents and do a better job. We have seen some elected superintendents resign for any number of reasons. In Florida, where many school superintendents want masks, the state's governor, Ron DeSantis, has issued an executive order banning mask mandates in schools.

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