No limit on requests to fire superintendent

School Board turns down proposal

The Broward School Board has turned down a proposal that would have made it harder to fire the superintendent.

The proposal, drafted by district staff, would have placed restrictions on all requests made directly by School Board members instead of the superintendent. Had it passed, the School Board would have had to wait six months to bring back a topic after a failed vote.

The impetus was a March 5 request by Board member Lori Alhadeff to

fire Superintendent Robert Runcie. School Board member Rosalind Osgood, a strong Runcie supporter, suggested a waiting period so the same request didn’t come up week after week.

But five of nine board members said at a Tuesday workshop that would be too limiting.

“Why are we trying to fix something that’s not broke?” Board member Ann Murray, a Runcie supporter, said. “If a person wants to bring the same item back, that’s their right to do it whether I agree with them or not.”

Runcie’s four biggest critics on the board, Alhadeff, Robin Bartleman, Nora Rupert and Heather Brinkworth, also opposed the idea.

“There have been times when we’ve all reversed minds,” Bartleman said. “We get new information. You’re taking all that away. You have to have the ability to hire and fire your employees when you need to do it instead of waiting six months.”

Alhadeff added, “Circumstances can change. This is just bad governance.”

The way the proposal was written, a second vote to fire the superintendent couldn’t be held for six months, even if there was an arrest or major scandal.

Alhadeff asked the board March 5 to fire Runcie, citing failures in security, the $800 million bond to renovate schools and special education. The request failed 6 to 3, with Bartleman and Rupert joining her.

Alhadeff annoyed Runcie’s supporters at an April 30 workshop when she asked how soon she could bring the request back up.

Osgood argued then that when a board member repeatedly brings up termination, it’s “ruining the board relationship and creating greater chaos in the community.”

On Tuesday, Osgood said she’d be willing to consider a three-month waiting period for most items. If there was a major infraction, the board could vote immediately to fire the superintendent.

Board member Laurie Rich Levinson said she felt strongly a six-month moratorium was needed.

“I don’t believe a topic should be brought up more than twice a year,” Levinson said. “You shouldn’t have that kind of disorder more than every six months.”

However, Murray said the School Board can just vote to limit debate if they don’t want to discuss an issue.