Manatee School Board approves FSBA superintendent search timeline, qualifications and ad plan

The Manatee County School Board voted, 5-0, to approve materials from the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) governing the search for the district's next superintendent, including a timeline, candidate qualifications, a list of desired qualities and the search advertisement and venues.

The action sets a schedule that calls for the board to identify semifinalists on July 29, select finalists at a special meeting on Aug. 12, hold public interviews Aug. 18 and individual interviews Aug. 19, and target a board selection in late August (Aug. 26 was discussed). The advertisement and application portal opened on the district website and FSBA's site; FSBA said applicants must submit complete materials up front and that all applications will be posted publicly once materials are processed.

The approved qualifications include a preferred experience range in districts of approximately 20,000 students and a salary range of $220,000 to $260,000. Board members debated whether school-based experience or administrative experience should be required. The board decided to keep school/district experience as a preferred — not required — qualification after extended discussion about widening the candidate pool and whether industry or military leaders should be eligible.

FSBA consultants presented a set of 18 candidate qualities derived from community surveys and input sessions; the board added a 19th quality after a public input suggestion. The added text, read into the record during the meeting, calls for “a demonstrated record of supporting parent choice and ensuring equitable opportunities and resources for all students regardless of public school type.” The reading was made on behalf of a member of the public who spoke during the meeting.

FSBA staff said the search advertisement will run across paid professional outlets (including the American Association of School Administrators and the Florida Association of School Administrators) and free venues; the consultants recommended including the National Alliance of Black School Educators and that the Latino administrators listing is covered through AASA. FSBA said the advertisement will close at 11:59 p.m. on the stated July deadline and that applications will not be assigned applicant numbers or posted until all required materials (including unofficial transcripts) are received and processed by staff.

FSBA described the public input process: a web form will allow general feedback and specific comments on posted applicants; feedback connected to semifinalists and finalists will be collected and delivered to the board on a schedule intended to avoid last-minute influence on the selection process. FSBA also noted that semifinalist-to-finalist vetting will include social-media checks, lawsuits, Florida Department of Education certification checks and other background checks.

Votes at a glance: The single motion — to approve FSBA-provided search attachments including qualifications, qualities (as amended), timeline and advertisement venues — passed 5-0. The transcript records a motion and a second but does not name the mover and seconder in the public record.

Board members and FSBA staff spent most of the meeting discussing how narrowly to define preferred experience (the board ultimately retained the preferred - not required - wording for school-system experience), whether to require an administrator background, and the logistics of vetting and posting applications. FSBA staff said finalists will be asked for headshots and official transcripts during the semifinalist-to-finalist phase so press and the board can receive complete information.

The board directed staff to proceed with the posted timeline, post and process full applications as they arrive, accept public feedback via the online portal, and begin background and certification checks on semifinalists. The board indicated it will finalize interview questions by the Aug. 12 meeting, using categories of superintendent responsibility (finance, academics, leadership, community and board relations) as a starting point.

A public commenter urged the board to include in the superintendent profile a commitment to parental choice and collaboration with charter schools; the board incorporated similar language into the qualities list. The meeting record shows ongoing discussion about the limits of district authority over private schools and the scope of obligations to charter and homeschooled students.

The meeting concluded after the vote and additional logistical discussion about the interview schedule and the distribution of application packets to board members and the public.