FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The newly elected members of the Broward County School Board are expected to vote early next week as to whether or not they will change course on the previous board’s decision to fire Superintendent Dr. Vickie Cartwright.
“We are craving stability in this district, and to keep changing, and changing, and changing, I just don’t agree with it,” said Broward County School Board member Debra Hixon.
That uncertainty is at the top spot at Broward County Public Schools, which will continue for at least another week.
“I think Dr. Cartwright is the right superintendent for our district,” said Hixon.
Hixon has supported Cartwright since she started less than a year ago, while others have not.
“My next item is to amend Dr. Cartwright’s contract,” said Broward County School Board member Lori Alhadeff.
Alhadeff’s motion for the meeting would replace Cartwright immediately.
Cartwright has been the superintendent of Broward County schools for less than a year. She was promoted from interim to permanent back in February.
But Cartwright was fired last month, and her 60-day notice is now nearly half gone.
Her ousting was led by a group of men who were appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after a grand jury report indicated previous board members mismanaged funds.
The governor’s appointments made for a majority on the board, which was quickly dubbed the “Reform Board.”
“In this case, I’m going to own it. Everyone’s caught on to it, a reform board, because the ‘Reform Board,’ we do want change,” said previous school board member Torey Alston.
In October, they verbally reprimanded the superintendent and gave her 90 days to outline a plan going forward.
But just two weeks later, the board voted to fire her and gave her 60 days notice.
“I was shocked and surprised by the conversation,” said Cartwright.
It was a move that even surprised Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the chairman of the Marjory Stoneman Douglass Public Safety Commission, who for years had criticized the previous administration’s handling of the Parkland tragedy.
“Vickie Cartwright did more to change the culture and climate in the safety climate in the Broward schools in her tenure then what was done under the previous five years or four years under [Robert] Runcie and the previous administration,” said Gualtieri. “I have nothing but good things to say and praise for her because she has made a difference.”
Four of the governor’s appointees are gone and have been replaced by school board members elected by voters in November. That may be the key to Cartwright keeping her job.
The new board is expected to vote Tuesday night as to whether or not to reinstate Dr. Cartwright.
“I really wish we weren’t looking for a superintendent in the first place,” said Hixon. “Whatever happens next Tuesday, our district needs to get some stability and move forward.”
“Whatever the majority of the board wants, I will be there supporting them and supporting the superintendent, whoever it is, and make sure we are moving forward,” said Alhadeff.
A couple of the items that they will possibly vote on as early as next week could be to reinstate Dr. Cartwright and canceling their current search for a new superintendent.
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