The League of Women Voters of Manatee County Education Issues Committee observes the Manatee County School Board meetings for items of interest to citizens and the League and notes adherence, or lack of adherence, to good governance procedures and the sunshine laws. The following are the major points from the school board meeting on 6/17/2025.
The meeting was called to order at 11:01 a.m. by Chair Choate who led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comments –
SZ – expressed gratitude to the Board Members for their fairness and collaboration regarding the surtax. He offered a recommendation for an additional quality in the Superintendent search. He said the district is in the top 5 in parent choice and 20% of students attend charter schools. He suggested to add that the applicant demonstrate a record of being for parent choice and support every student and every setting.
New Business (No Superintendent Recommendation)
Discussion and Approval of Florida School Board Association Superintendent Search Timeline and Details
After the following discussion, Board Members approved 5-0 the organizing documents presented by the Florida School Board Association representatives to guide the current Superintendent search. [LWV note: agreed upon Advertisement, Timeline, Qualifications and Qualities are linked here. Once applications have been certified as complete by the FSBA screening process, they will be posted at this same website link and a community feedback form is provided.]
Chair Choate introduced FSBA’s Ms. Andrea Messina and Dr. Demetrius Rice, and Dr. Bill Vogel, independent consultant to the School Board who will serve as coordinator between the district and FSBA. It was noted that Dr. Vogel has retired from FSBA’s Superintendent search team. Dr. Vogel indicated the website’s posting of the advertisement went “live at five” on June 16. He said that as soon as an application is received, it will be posted for the board and for community feedback.
Ms. Messina recommended the discussion start with Qualifications. She noted that the board seemed comfortable with the decisions made less that two years ago for the past search. Mr. Choate asked if there were any suggested changes. Mr. Tatem questioned if specifying experience in a district of at least 20,000 students as preferred would limit the pool of people to look at. A brief discussion ensued. Ms. Messina indicated that hearing their discussion she understood the Board was open to considering someone without that experience. This resulted in adding the qualifier “approximately 20,000.”
Ms. Felton said she wanted the required qualifications to reflect some school district experience to ensure the applicant understands how a district runs and it is not a business. She said they need to know what a school does, what a district does; this is extremely important since, this “is not an industry of producing something.” Mr. Kennedy agreed and suggested moving the preferred qualification of “Experience as a teacher, school based or district level administrator” up to the required list. Ms. Spray and Mr. Tatem pointed out applicants may have had leadership experience in industry or the military. The result was to leave the statement under the preferred list.
Ms. Messina then turned to the list of qualities to use for the Superintendent search and reminded the Board of the public commenter’s suggestion. A brief discussion included acknowledgement that the district embraces choice between traditional public schools as well as charter schools. It was agreed to add a nineteenth quality to read: “A demonstrated record of supporting parent choice, and ensuring equitable opportunities and resources for all students, regardless of public school type.”
The next discussion was regarding the timeline. Ms. Messina stressed the importance of closing the applications just before midnight on July 15. This accommodates various time zones and considers the applicants’ needs. Applications are submitted to FSBA where they are screened for completeness. She emphasized that only fully completed applications will be brought forward to be considered. Once received in the district the applications will be posted to the website. July 29 is an already scheduled Board Meeting. This will be timely for agreeing on the semi-finalists to be vetted by thorough background checks and receiving community feedback up to August 12. Chair Choate indicated a Special Meeting would be called on August 12 to select the finalists. Community feedback will be compiled by FSBA in three separate phases: initial applications; semi-finalists; finalists.
It was decided that the date certain for finalist interviews is August 18 and 19th. On August 18, the entire board will interview each candidate using a list of questions that reflect the various responsibilities of the Superintendent rather than organized around the strategic plan as last time. A new strategic planning process is underway. On the evening of August 18, there will be a meet and greet for the community. On August 19, each Board Member will interview each individual finalist, as well as attend their briefing for the next board meeting.
The Board will select the Superintendent on August 26, at a regularly scheduled School Board Meeting at 5:30 p.m. The timeline specifies September 9, 2025, another regular 5:30 p.m. School Board Meeting for finalizing the Superintendent’s contract.
The final discussion was an agreement about a 30-day advertisement for paid venues that included American Association of School Administrators (includes Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents), Florida Association of School Administrators, and National Association of Black School Educators. It was also agreed to advertise in free venues including AASA State Associations of School Superintendents, Florida School Boards Association (main web page and social media), National Affiliation of Superintendent Searches, and Council of Great City Schools.
Timeline:
June 16, 2025
Begin Advertisement Process
Website goes live promoting search
June 17, 2025 Special School Board Meeting
Briefly discuss Board Priorities for the next Superintendent
Finalize Timeline
Agree on Qualities and Qualifications
Set the Salary Range
Determine Advertisement Venues
July 16, 2025, Advertisement closes – applications posted on website as they are submitted
Closes at 11:59 PM (EST)
July 29, 202,5 Board identifies semi-finalists
July 29-August 12, 2025: Final background checks and community feedback
August 12, 2025, Board selects finalists for interviews.
August 18, 2025, Entire Board interviews each finalist
Evening - Community Meet and Greet of Finalists
August 19, 2025, Individual Board Member/Candidate Interviews
August 26, 202,5 Board selects Superintendent, contract negotiations begin
September 9, 2025: Finalize Contract
Ms. Spray aptly reminded the Chair that the agenda had not been approved prior to launching into the business of the day. Asking Dr. Vogel to speak into the microphone to be heard was appreciated.
The final list of required qualifications for the Superintendent of Manatee School District could result in an individual with a master’s degree and no school district experience. We question if this is prudent. We recognize that there are many business functions of the district, however school districts in Florida are far more complex than a business for profit and turning out a specific object. No matter how much leadership experience a person might have, if they do not have the heart and experience of an educator they need not be considered.
Many of the observers’ concerns for the initial seemingly disorganized and ineffective effort to launch at efficacious Superintendent Search were allayed by the professional and systematic facilitation of the FSBA representatives and the competent and timely coordination of Dr. Vogel.
Providing to the viewers the documents being discussed is helpful.
Board Members were observed to be engaged in a collegial discussion. Ms. Messina’s facilitation guiding the Board through one topic at a time prevented the disjointed conversation often observed.
We recommend specific organizations be invited to send representatives to the Meet and Greet of the Superintendent finalists.
We are disappointed that an applicant video is no longer a requirement, as it was in the past.
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