Manatee County School Board approves interim contract for Mr. Chapman and sets expedited superintendent search

The Manatee County School Board voted 5-0 on May 29 to approve an amended interim superintendent supplemental contract for Mr. Chapman and to launch an expedited search for a permanent superintendent.

The contract approved by the board sets Mr. Chapman’s interim monthly supplement at $19,500, provides a $600 monthly vehicle allowance, up to $175 per month in cellular reimbursement, a $400 monthly expense account and a package of leave and retirement benefits continued from his district employment. The contract as amended includes a written term that runs to Jan. 6, 2026, or until the board installs another interim or permanent superintendent, whichever occurs first. The board’s vote to approve the amended contract was 5-0.

The board’s action followed extended discussion about the contract’s length and terms and about how the district will run the external search. Attorney Dye reviewed the amendment in open session and summarized the changes the board directed into the final draft. The chair read the items the board agreed to place in the contract: the Jan. 6, 2026 term date (subject to early termination on hire), the $19,500 monthly supplement, a $600 vehicle allowance, the $175 monthly cellular reimbursement cap, and a $400 monthly expense account. The board confirmed that indemnification language in the contract would require the board to defend Mr. Chapman for legal matters arising from the performance of his duties.

Why it matters: The interim contract both formalizes Mr. Chapman’s authority while the board completes a search and preserves flexibility for the board to shorten the interim term if it hires a new superintendent sooner. The search timetable approved by the board commits the district to a fast summer process that aims to have a permanent superintendent in place before the start of school if a suitable candidate is identified.

Search timeline and process The board agreed on a compressed schedule to advertise and fill the position: post the vacancy on Monday, June 2; keep the posting open through noon on Thursday, June 19; use the June 24 workshop/meeting to select a short list of finalists; schedule finalist interviews in a window roughly July 7–16; hold a board workshop on July 17 to deliberate; and place a candidate on the board agenda for approval at the regularly scheduled July meeting (the board discussed July 22 as the likely approval date). The board instructed staff to post applicant materials to the district’s superintendent-search page as applications arrive and to collect public comment through the district’s designated search email address.

Consultants, vetting and advertising Board discussion covered three external options for assistance: (1) FSBA (Florida School Boards Association), which said its June conference limits the services it could provide on the district’s tight timeline; (2) HYA, which offered a multi-phase engagement but a substantially higher price if full services were purchased (the board discussed roughly a $40,000 figure after removing an initial “engagement” phase); and (3) Zeal (revised proposal) at about $18,900 in the version shared with the board. Several board members also proposed hiring Dr. Vogel (who advised the board on the last search) in a narrower role late in the process to vet finalists and coordinate background checks; Dr. Vogel was discussed as a lower-cost, targeted option to validate finalists rather than lead the entire campaign.

On advertising, board members agreed to pay for a modest set of national advertising feeds that reach senior education leaders and associations to broaden the candidate pool; the board opted to exclude one higher-cost outlet (Education Week’s “Top School Jobs”) while using targeted association feeds (for example AASA and specialty educator networks). Board members said they would use Attorney Dye’s office as an administrative third party to receive applications and compile them for the board, and staff will publish and update applicant packets on the district’s superintendent-search web page as materials arrive.

What the board decided and the next steps - Approved the amended interim superintendent contract for Mr. Chapman, 5-0. Key terms summarized above will appear in the signed supplemental contract. - Authorized the posting to open June 2 and to close at noon on June 19. The district will publish applicant materials and accept public comment through a designated search email address. - Agreed to schedule finalist interviews in a July 7–16 window, a board workshop to deliberate on July 17, and a board vote on a nominee at the regular July meeting (discussed as July 22). - Directed staff and counsel to return with the finalized posting and to continue vetting consultant options; several board members indicated a preference for targeted vetting assistance from Dr. Vogel rather than a full-service, higher-cost vendor.

The board’s next public steps are the June 24 workshop and the opening of the posted vacancy on June 2. The board said it would supply the final posting language and the search webpage link once staff confirm formatting and the contact address for receiving applications.