School Board Gives Saunders 3-Year Contract

BRADENTON – After a 3-2 vote during Tuesday’s meeting, the Manatee School Board installed Cynthia Saunders as the district's permanent superintendent. Saunders, previously a deputy superintendent with the district, had been serving in an interim capacity since Diana Greene left to take the same position in Duval County last July.

The board first moved toward hiring Saunders in December. However, just days before the meeting, members were informed that the state had found probable cause in an investigation into whether she haddirected a policy that would make the graduation-rate in the district appear higher than it actually was by deliberately mis-coding students who dropped out as having transferred to homeschooling.

While board chair Dave Miner and board member Scott Hopes wanted to move forward anyway, they failed to get the support of a third member, and the board eventually decided to postpone the item until the investigation of the situation was resolved, giving Saunders a chance to "clear her name."

In the time since, top administrative employees have corroborated the allegations and Saunders is attempting to negotiate a settlement with the state department of education. Nevertheless, board member James Golden provided the third aye to swing the vote.

Board members Charlie Kennedy and Gina Messenger cast the dissenting votes. Both felt that the board owed it to the district and community to post the position and conduct a search to find the best candidate possible, while welcoming Saunders to apply.