2 minute read
APPOINTED WORKS FOR ALL
In 2018, Escambia County voters approved empowering the school board to search nationwide for the best educator to run the Escambia County School District. People saw that the elected superintendent system wasn't working.
At the time, the district ranked 53 out of 67 counties and had some of the state's lowest-performing elementary and middle schools. Our newspaper had uncovered the Newpoint Academy racketeering scheme that eventually stretched to five other counties and became the largest charter school scandal in Florida history.
Many leaders believed the struggling public education system was holding Escambia County back, making it difficult to attract new industries and provide qualified workers for local businesses. Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, who was serving his third term, was balking on accepting a $3 million workforce development from Triumph Gulf Coast because he didn't like the performance measurements. He eventually refused to sign the contract.
After a year-long search, the school board hired Dr. Tim Smith from Orlando to be the first appointed superintendent, and he took over in November 2020 after Thomas finished his final term. Smith spent the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year working under a budget that Thomas developed and with his predecessor's leadership team. And he had to deal with a pandemic.
Despite the challenges, the school district improved its ranking to 48 last year, Smith's first full school year. The district's grade improved from a C in 2018 to a B, and its number of B schools increased from eight to 14 while keeping the same number of A schools.
Now there is a move to have the voters reconsider the appointed superintendent with another referendum in 2024. School Board Member Kevin Adams has placed the issue on the board's agenda for its March 21 meeting because he says citizens asked him to do it during his 2022 re-election campaign.
School Board Chairman Paul Fetsko has said his constituents aren't happy with some of Smith's decisions, and he doesn't believe it matters whether the superintendent is elected or ap - pointed. For him, it's the person holding the position that is important.
State Rep. Michelle Salzman still supports appointing the superintendent but wants Smith to resign because he hasn't done what she wants with workforce training, her Mental Health Task Force and the district's magnet schools.
Some people liked having a powerful, elected superintendent even though the district suffered. They liked having someone that doled out favors behind the scenes, found jobs for their family and friends, and cut deals that worked for them. School board members weren't held responsible for the district's performance and could push criticism toward the elected superintendent. If citizens complained, the school board would tell them to take it up with the superintendent at the next election. State lawmakers applied pressure behind closed doors to get their pet projects done.
But those who didn't have the elected superintendent's ear were locked out of the system. Their calls went unanswered, and their kids got no special treatment.
Switching to an appointed superintendent leveled the playing field for all Escambia families. The responsibility and accountability for public education shifted from one supreme leader to five board members. If three board members aren't satisfied with the superintendent's decisions and job performance, they can replace him. They don't have to wait for the next election and hope a better candidate ran for the office.
If Adams and Fetsko believe citizens' complaints are valid, they should put Smith's continued employment on the agenda and hold a public hearing on whether he should be retained. If they get one more school board member to agree with termination, the district will search for a new superintendent.
Rep. Salzman has to do what every other citizen does. She must talk with all five school board members, individually or in a public meeting, and garner their support for her ideas.
The switch to appointed has improved the school district. A return to superintendent elections opens the door to more backroom politics.
{in} rick@inweekly.net
