Elected Vs. Appointed Superintendent Workshop Set

SEBRING - Elected versus appointed schools superintendent - it's an issue with a lot of interest around the state in various districts, according to Florida School Boards Association Executive Director Wayne Blanton.

Prompted by a citizen request, the School Board of Highlands County will look into the issue of changing from an elected to an appointed schools chief.

Blanton will come from Tallahassee to inform the board and public on the issue at a school board workshop, which is scheduled at 4 p.m., Oct. 23 in the Garland Boggus Board Room at the district office.

He is assisting Lake County's search for a superintendent after the county made the change recently to an appointed superintendent.

In his 32 years of experience, Blanton said he has worked with many districts during their first search for an appointed schools chief.

Highlands County Superintendent of Schools Wally Cox, who is serving his second four-year term, said, "there are pros and cons on both. The people in this community, I trust them to know what's best for this county."

At the school board workshop, Blanton will give the pros and cons of both an elected and appointed superintendent. Then he will talk about his observations over the years and the background history concerning the two options in choosing a superintendent. Then an open forum will be held to discuss the issue.

Very few states have elected superintendents.

Of the 15,500 school districts in the country, there are only about 300 elected superintendents left, Blanton said. Florida, percentage wise, probably has the most. Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas have a few.

Georgia approved a constitutional amendment about eight to 10 years ago that converted all the elected positions to appointed positions, he said. Previously, of the state's 187 districts, about 150 districted elected their superintendent.

"I don't see that happening in Florida because Florida can do it district-by-district," Blanton said.

Highlands Today asked Blanton if there is more accountability with an appointed superintendent?

Operationally yes, there's more accountability in the fact that an appointed superintendent has to be accountable every day, he replied. "I've had superintendents say 'I just got elected' and that's it, they didn't do much. So there was very little accountability.

"Most elected superintendents are very diligent in what they do simply because most of them want to get reelected again."

There is no trend in changing the superintendent selection process.

When Lake County made the switch to an appointed position, Pasco County voters stayed with an elected schools chief.

Every two or three years a couple of districts try making a change, Blanton said. It's something that comes and goes with the politics of the area.

"In Lake County, they were just fed up with the superintendent's actions ... the county commission endorsed it," he said.

Changing to an appointed schools chief requires a resolution by the school board and voter approval by referendum.