Citrus: Election stirs an old debate

Election stirs an old debate

The call is renewed for appointing the school superintendent. It may be a 2002 referendum item.

By BARBARA BEHRENDT

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Just as the dust is settling on this year's divisive school superintendent election, a group of citizens has come forward to resurrect the issue of whether future superintendents should be elected or appointed to the position.

The group picked up paperwork from the Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Office on Wednesday to form a political action committee that would push for a referendum on the issue in 2002. The group, currently composed of representatives of the League of Women Voters and the Citrus County Council, thinks the time has come to switch from the elected to the appointed system. The Citrus County Council is a coalition of various community and civic organizations.

"Based on this last election and the divisions it caused in this school district and with the superintendent, it's really very obvious now that we need to get the politics out of the school system," said league member Jane Fricano.

Superintendent Pete Kelly lost a bid for a second term as superintendent last week when he was defeated by his former assistant, David Hickey. The heated contest caused friction within the district as employees backed one high-ranking administrator or another.

Fricano, who lost a bid for the School Board this year, said she knew of people whose jobs were moved or eliminated in the midst of the contest. "That's not good for students and that's not good for the community," she said.

The league and the Citrus County Council were the chief sponsors of a similar referendum in March 1996. In that referendum, voters overwhelmingly turned down the idea of an appointed superintendent.

But this year, the group representatives said there has been pressure to bring the issue to voters again.

League member Jackie Evans said she had been approached by several supporters of the elected system in recent months who told her that they had reconsidered their opinion and now thought the appointed method would be better.

Those supporting the appointed superintendent said that many issues that drove them last time still hold true. If the superintendent were appointed, the School Board could seek applicants from all over the nation who have extensive experience running school systems rather than simply choosing from the pool of applicants available in the county who may or may not have the right qualifications.

But the group also noted that the real push this year is to avoid another highly political and divisive election like the one just concluded.

Local activist Ansel Briggs, who lost in the race for superintendent this year, is also a part of the movement to bring the issue of an appointed superintendent back before voters. He had talked about the issue throughout his campaign and said he would encourage the 5,000-plus people who voted for him to support the change in the selection method.

"We're going to be better organized and more focused," Briggs said. "We're going to unite the citizens in this community behind this effort for educational excellence."

"An appointed system is still the best educational system," Fricano added. "When an opportunity comes along, you've got to walk through the door."

The league and the Citrus County Council are expected to formally back the effort, their representatives said.

And now the groups plan to form a steering committee and begin seeking donations to their cause. They hope to sponsor community meetings and form a speakers bureau to get the word out to people long before the issue appears on the ballot.

The groups anticipate a higher turnout in November 2002 because there will be a governor's election on the ballot.

Voter turnout in 1996 wasn't very high because the issue appeared on the ballot of a presidential preference primary rather than in a general election.

In order to get the issue on the ballot, the groups will also have to seek support from the County Commission, which must vote to include such a referendum.

A meeting of the organizing group is slated for Nov. 27. To reach the organizers, call Fricano at 527-0643, Briggs at 637-8138, Evans at 563-2857 or Jim Bitter at 628-1563.