A divided public speaks out on Broward school chief’s future

The fate of Broward Schools Superintendent Vickie Cartwright could be decided today, with a board made up largely of appointees from Gov. Ron DeSantis hearing comments from a divided public.

The board has been listening to in-person and written comments Tuesday morning and plans to discuss the matter during the afternoon.

The district has been in turmoil since August when DeSantis removed and replaced four School Board members after a grand jury identified numerous problems with how the district is managed.

Speakers at Tuesday’s meeting were divided, with strong opposition to Cartwright coming from some Black residents, who said she has mishandled some personnel issues involving Black employees and job candidates, as well as some conservative white residents, who say she has supported liberal policies.

[ RELATED: As Broward superintendent’s job is in jeopardy, top lawyer’s fate is also uncertain ]

While not all critics are Black, “the majority of those impacted by her failed leadership are Black. They are the ones that first came forward,” said Bobby Henry, publisher of the Westside Gazette newspaper.

Critics of the proposal, including some Democratic elected officials and members of the LGBTQ community, complained that it was being spearheaded by unelected board members who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. They said it’s unfair to remove her two weeks before four new School Board members are elected.

“Where was the outrage from this board last week when the state threatened teachers’ certification for teaching gender identity or teaching history that accurately portrays our nation of race?” LGBTQ activist Michael Rajner told the board. “I struggle with the authenticity of charges of racism.”

Oakland Park Commissioner Matthew Sparks told board members if Cartwright was removed, they’d be allowing DeSantis to serve as a “puppet master” for the Broward School Board.

[ RELATED: DeSantis’ ‘reform board’ could decide Broward superintendent’s fate Tuesday ]

Cartwright was just hired for the permanent job in February but she’s been facing increasing criticism since DeSantis suspended and replaced four School Board members in August. Her most vocal critics have been Daniel Foganholi, who was appointed by DeSantis after Rosalind Osgood joined the state Senate, and Chairman Torey Alston, one of the four most recent DeSantis appointees.

Alston wrote a scathing critique of Cartwright, which was added to the agenda Friday. He said she has poor communication skills and has been leading with a “getting to November” attitude.

Alton wrote that Cartwright had no plan to address declining enrollment and lost learning from the pandemic, she’d failed to alert the School Board about high-profile separation agreements and botched a search for a facilities chief.

He even criticized how she was selected. She was initially hired as interim superintendent in July 2021 with the understanding that she wouldn’t apply for the permanent job. But then the School Board changed her contract to allow her to apply. Critics said these decisions limited the pool of candidates.

[ RELATED: After a botched search for facilities chief, School Board members raise leadership concerns ]

“Upon my arrival as interim, I fell in love with Broward County Public Schools,” Cartwright wrote in a 48-page response. “I had many long and emotional nights thinking about what has occurred in our great district over the past five years. My experiences in my personal and professional life could be utilized as I served the students, staff, and community of Broward County.”

A state Board of Education leader first suggested at a September meeting that Cartwright should be removed, saying the district has been slow to fix issues in the grand jury report.

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