Hillsborough County should keep its appointed superintendent system, according to Kids Not Campaigns, for three reasons: it keeps partisan politics out of classrooms; it lets the superintendent focus full-time on running schools instead of campaigning for office; and it already provides accountability through seven School Board members elected by Hillsborough voters, two of them countywide. Only Florida and Alabama elect school superintendents at all, and in Florida, counties with elected superintendents serve roughly one-tenth as many students as counties with appointed superintendents. Hillsborough’s current system has produced a 92.9% graduation rate and A, B, or C state ratings for 98% of its schools.
A partisan superintendent would bring more politics into our schools. Our children already have enough of that influence in their lives, and do not need more in their education.
A partisan superintendent will necessarily spend a majority of their time campaigning for the office, rather than performing the job of superintendent. Campaigns take time and focus away from what matters – educating our children.
Let’s keep our education system focused on kids, not campaigns!
Under our current system, parents get an experienced professional focused on leading the district and serving students; not a politician focused on the next election.
