Kids Not Campaigns | Keep Politics Out of Schools
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Hillsborough County's Superintendent Ballot Measure (referendum #1) about?

Hillsborough County’s November 2026 ballot measure asks whether the Superintendent of Schools for Hillsborough County Public Schools should be elected in a partisan election for a 4-year term starting with the 2028 general election, rather than appointed by the School Board as it is today. Kids Not Campaigns opposes the change, arguing the current system already gives voters accountability through seven elected School Board members (two elected countywide) and lets the superintendent focus on running schools rather than campaigning.

What does the ballot measure say?

PROVIDING FOR AN ELECTED, RATHER THAN AN APPOINTED, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Shall Chapter 2026-  , Laws of Florida, which provides that the Superintendent of Schools for Hillsborough County Public Schools shall no longer be appointed by the School Board, but shall be elected in a partisan election for a term of 4 years, beginning with the 2028 general election, become effective?

  • We need to keep politics out of our public-school classrooms. A partisan Superintendent brings politics front and center.
  • Our superintendent should be a qualified expert in education who knows how to improve our school system and student performance reviewed by and accountable to an elected School Board.
  • HCPS has a strong record of success and is working well under the current system. Grades are improving, graduation rates are increasing, academic achievement is strong.
  • There’s no clear reason to make this switch. A partisan superintendent will reduce the voter’s impact on education policy in Hillsborough County by only allowing the voters to have a say one time every four years.
  • Currently, all seven school board members are elected by Hillsborough County voters. Two of these seats are elected countywide. That means voters have multiple opportunities every election cycle to shape education policy by holding their elected officials accountable.
  • Hillsborough County voters have multiple opportunities every election cycle to make their voice heard by choosing a school board member that best represents their views.
  • With both district-specific and county-wide School Board members responsive to the voters, there are multiple opportunities for you to influence policy.
  • Having a school board member directly representing you and your district means you have local access to elected officials who can influence school policy.

With regular oversight and annual reviews, the current system ensures that our superintendent is responsive to all of Hillsborough County, not just those that donated to their campaign.

With regular board oversight, our current system ensures that the school district keeps the focus on educating students in Hillsborough County. All of the seven independently-elected members of the school board have their own political incentives to keep the district running as effectively and efficiently as possible.

The balance created by the board governance model ensures that the entire county has a seat at the table. With a partisan superintendent, there is only one voice that matters, and that partisan superintendent could drastically shift the priorities of the district away from its core goal.

KIDS NOT CAMPAIGNS — NO Partisan Superintendent