NEWS

Superintendent appointments, school board term limits advance

The News Service of Florida

Two measures that would affect Florida school boards and school superintendents are headed to the full state Constitution Revision Commission.

On Thursday, the commission’s Local Government Committee approved a measure (Proposal 43), sponsored by Commissioner Erika Donalds of Naples, that would limit school board members to no more than two four-year terms in office. Currently, there is no term limit for school board members.

The committee also endorsed another Donalds-sponsored measure (P33) that would require school superintendents to be appointed in all 67 school districts. Currently, superintendents are appointed in 26 largely urban districts, while superintendents in 41 smaller, more rural districts — including Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties — are elected.

Both measures have cleared two committees and are ready for a review by the 37-member commission. If at least 22 members of the commission approve the measures, they will be placed on the 2018 general-election ballot.

Before the final vote on those and other measures, the commission is scheduled early next year to hold a series of public hearings across the state on pending proposals.