 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Regents to recommend their own replacement
By BARRY KLEIN © St. Petersburg Times, published September 16, 2000 PENSACOLA -- After a discussion that was unusually calm for this topic, the state Board of Regents voted Friday to put together recommendations for a task force that is expected to soon put the regents out of business. University system Chancellor Adam Herbert said he will hire a consultant to examine higher education governing structures used in other states. That information will be presented to the regents at their November meeting, where members are expected to vote on the plan they think would best serve Florida. Whether it will make any difference is an open question. The Education Governance Reorganization Task Force, an appointed body that is supposed to redesign Florida's education system from top to bottom, has made it clear that the regents are on their way out. The task force asked for suggestions about a replacement system but is discussing scenarios that are considerably more radical than anything the regents are likely to propose. Herbert and several board members favor retaining some form of statewide coordinating board that would limit competition among Florida's 10 universities and provide a buffer to legislative meddling. Task force members are talking about a system in which many powers currently held by the regents would be shifted to local boards of trustees. Regents Chairman Tom Petway, who supports the regents' elimination, didn't fight the decision to present the task force with alternatives. That was a change from other meetings, when he told board members the best policy was to let the task force do its work. Regent Jon Moyle, who said he has no illusions about the regents' future, said it would be irresponsible of the board not to try to influence the shape of whatever replaces them. "We've worked hard at nurturing cooperation among the 10 universities, and I think we've been good stewards," he said. "I'm confident we have something to offer."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times state desk
From the state wire
|
