Search Continues For New Broward School Superintendent

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – With the start of the new school year less than a week away, a slimmed down Broward School Board is continuing its search for a new Superintendent.

Late last week, new board member Dave Thomas and veteran member Jennifer Gottlieb both announced they were stepping down to spend more time with family. The remaining board members said they hope to have a decision on the Superintendent's position by the end of September. CBS4 news has learned that a couple of dozen people have applied for the job including several current school Superintendents around the state.

During Tuesday board meeting, Thomas formally said good bye.

"I want to thank you Mr. Williams, the chair, board members, for this opportunity," said Thomas who left so he could take care of his ill wife. "The job of School Board member, contrary to what people think, is a very time consuming job. There's the reading, there's the research, going to all the meetings. There's sacrifice on part of the family as well as the School Board member and I could not, in good conscience, do what I needed to do for my constituents to represent them properly and still be able to give time to my wife."

Former Superintendent James Notter, who left the district in June, said he too was leaving for family reasons. His departure came on the heels of a scathing Grand Jury report which criticized the district for wasteful spending, mismanagement and corruption.

As for the next Superintendent, many who keep track of the district's actions have their own wish list.

"Somebody that will be able to work with the community, work with the parents, and it's all about the children. Somebody that we there, that is all about kids," said Renee Grutman with the PTA.

"Desperately needs to be an outsider, somebody with heavy business experience running a corporation because this is a major corporation. As far as the education side of the house, you can have a deputy for education and this district will do just fine," said community activist Charlotte Greenbarg.

Tuesday is the deadline for submitting applications.  The board will then go through the candidates and narrow it down to a 'short list'; the formal interviews will then take place.