Public Might Select Best Way To Hire School Chief

SEBRING - Possible deadlines for an elected or appointed superintendent referendum were announced Thursday night during a School Board of Highlands County workshop.

The issue of changing from an elected to an appointed school superintendent has become a hot issue lately amongst parents and residents.

Depending upon how the school board handles the issue, residents may have the opportunity later this year to vote on whether board members should appoint future superintendents or keep the current system, which leaves it up to the public to elect them.

Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Joe Campbell told school board members that if they want to place a referendum on the ballot for August's county primary, they would have until June 20 to inform the county election board.

Campbell said that if school board members wanted to place it on the ballot during November's general election, they would have until Aug. 24 to inform the election board.

Of the 15,500 school districts around the country, there are only about 300 elected superintendents.

Thursday night's meeting was open to the public, and many audience members expressed their opinions on the issue.

"Currently there are no qualifications really needed for someone to run for superintendent," said Lorida resident John Dyce. "If board members were allowed to appoint someone to the position, they'd be able to pick the person with the best credentials."

Hoz Compton, of Lake Placid, echoed Dyce's thoughts, saying that although he thinks current superintendent Wally Cox was doing a good job, he favored an appointed superintendent.

"Under the system we've got, someone who's 19 years old and has enough money to buy signs could get elected," said Compton.

Marcia Percy, of Sebring, said that she favors the current election system.

"I've never seen a non-qualified candidate (under the elected system)," said Percy. "It also doesn't make sense to have board members who are elected decide that someone should be appointed rather than elected."

Campbell said that the cost of placing the issue on a ballot would have to be paid for by the school board, although the cost would probably be minimal.

In order to place a referendum on a ballot, board members would have to approve its language, and the issue would then have to be approved by the Highlands County Board of Commissioners.

The issue will be placed on the agenda of the Feb. 26 school board meeting.