Action Center

Elected School Board Chair: PROS/CONS

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ORANGE COUNTY
WWW.LWVOC.ORG
Special Referendum - Florida Ballot
November 4, 2008

Background: The Florida Legislature passed a bill providing for a procedure for election of an Orange County district-wide school board chairman by countywide vote. The special referendum has been placed on the November 4, 2008 ballot. Currently, the Orange County Public School Board is comprised of seven members, each elected from equal size single member districts. Annually, the elected individuals elect a chairman from among the seven members. This proposal would add an eighth school board member, a chair, with two votes in the event of a tie.

Pro:

1. Proponents believe that the school system may achieve greater visibility.
2. Proponents assert that the school district could benefit from having a chairman to serve as an additional intermediary between the elected body and citizens.
3. Proponents advocate that an elected district-wide school board chairman with two votes (in the event of a tie on the school board) may provide stronger leadership.
   

Con:

1. A district-wide elected school board chairman conflicts with the unanimous findings and recommendations of a representative, 17-member community task force that studied school board governance from around the nation.
2. A district -wide elected school board chairman with two votes is not currently used in any of the 15,000 school districts nationwide, nor does the Orange County commission chair/mayor, sometimes cited as its model, have two votes in the event of a tie.
3. A district-wide elected school board chairman with two votes in the event of a tie, conflicts with the basic democratic principle of one person, one vote.
4. A single district would have three votes in the event of a tie (due to the chairman residing in the same district as another school board member), and thus dilute the advantages of balanced, single district representation, especially for minority or underrepresented groups.
5. The current proposal would require a five-vote super majority by school board members to override the second vote by the chairman.
6. The current proposal could allow for the chairman's powers, duties, and salary to be changed by the legislature, without voter approval.
7. There is no demonstrated correlation between student achievement and any type of school board governance model.
8. The presence of a district-wide elected school board chairman could lead to conflict with an appointed superintendent and discourage future, qualified superintendent applicants from seeking employment with Orange County Public Schools.