Broward School Board Members Gottlieb, Thomas Out

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – With just about a week to go until the start of the new school year, veteran Broward School Board member Jennifer Gottlieb has announced she's stepping down.

This is the second board member to announce their departure in as many days; Dave Thomas also announced that he was leaving so he could focus on his wife's health issues, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.

The resignations come as the board also conducts a search for a new Superintendent to replace James Notter who retired earlier this year.

"If you don't have a superintendent and you have two school board members quitting, thats you know, where does that leave teachers and parents to look to," said Melina Perez, a parent. "I mean there's no support there. Who is leading the schools?"

Broward Teachers Union spokesman John Ristow agreed the timing is bad. "Obviously it comes at a really difficult time for the district following the grand jury report and all the allegations of corruption," said Ristow.

Jennifer Gottlieb Letter of Resignation

The paper reports Gottlieb, who won a board seat in 2005 by defeating incumbent Darla L. Carter, had come under criticism in the last year. A state Grand Jury report blasted her for championing the Beachside Montessori Village School in Hollywood which it described as a $25 million "beachside boondoggle."

The report pointed out that the school district spent $25 million for a new school in an area where there were plenty of empty elementary and middle school seats. In building the school the report said dozens of residents were displaced and most of a local community park was razed.

Broward Teachers Union President Pat Santeramo said originally he supported Gottlieb who got her start in education as a teacher at Dania Beach Elementary. She also worked for a time as BTU's government relations manager.

Over the years, however, Santeramo said he found their working relationship drift apart as Gottlieb supported Notter's calls for an impasse during contract negotiations.

Gov. Rick Scott is expected to appoint two new board members. Some district insiders are concerned that his choices could drastically shift the political balance of the board and its decisions.