Dade County Board of Education

Morgan Bradford (left) is honored for her participation in the school system's mentoring program.  Presiding is Cherie Swader (right), interim superintendent. 

Board of Ed Invites All To Take Superintendent Search Survey; But Good Luck With That

By Robin Ford Wallace

Monday’s Dade County Board of Education meeting was short and routine, but the board did adopt the 171-day school calendar presented at a work session last week by acting Schools Superintendent Cherie Swader. 

That means three instructional days will be added back into the 2014-15 scholastic year, a step toward restoring the full 180 Dade students enjoyed – or not, according to individual temperament – before the state began the series of funding cuts that have put local public schools over the financial barrel.

Board Chairwoman Carolyn Bradford reported that brochures had been sent out and advertisements posted online in the system’s search for a new superintendent.  Ms. Swader is interim head of the system as a permanent replacement is sought for Shawn Tobin, whom the board showed the door rather abruptly in February.   

Ms. Bradford also said the board had posted a “Superintendent Search Survey,” in which all are invited to furnish their input, at the B of E’s website, www.dadecountyschools.org.

“That’s basically where we’re at right now,” said Ms. Bradford.
The school system's website says the survey is open until March 21, but The Planet made two stabs at accessing it and found that earlier, it was described as currently unavailable, while today it was listed as closed as of March 18.  

Acting Superintendent Swader said the system’s numbers guru, Doug Eza, will be in town this week to work on a system budget for the upcoming year.  He will appear at the board’s regular meeting at 6 p.m. on April 14 to go over the budget.

Also scheduled to appear at a 5 p.m. work session before the April 14 meeting is Tony Cook, facilities director at the state B of E offices.  Cook is to advise the Dade system on obtaining funds to replace its ailing heating and air conditioning system.

Ms. Swader conducted ceremonies honoring student speech award winners and participants in the school system’s mentoring program.

After an unusually brief executive, or closed-door session, the board approved the hiring of one teacher and several substitute teachers.

Ms. Swader as previously requested by at-large member David Powell, provided resale or so-called “blue book” value for a school car she wishes to replace:  $4,796 resale, $3431 trade-in.

The car and one other, now used for staff travel, were originally bought for driver’s education, a program the school system later decided it could not afford.

robinfordwallace@tvn.net