Broward Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie Cartwright to keep her job
FORT LAUDERDALE - The county's school board met for 12 hours Tuesday to consider Broward Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie Cartwright's future.
In the end, the board decided not to fire her. She will face a reprimand and tasked her with making a checklist of issues she needs to address and present it to the board in 90 days.
During the meeting there was an item on the agenda that listed 15 criticisms of the superintendent, questioning her leadership, judgment, and decision-making.
The board is made up of five of nine members who were appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Four of the board members were appointed after a grand jury report identified mismanagement and possible corruption.
The fifth member, Daniel Foganholi, was appointed by DeSantis to fill the seat vacated by Dr. Rosalind Osgood who is now a state senator.
On Tuesday, dozens of speakers spoke for and against Cartwright. Many African American speakers criticized her, demanding her removal. They pointed out that some schools in the district are failing on her watch. There were also rumors that CBS4 was not able to confirm.
"But when those facts are being used against me inaccurately, I will stand up," said Cartwright.
Others said the school board should wait two weeks until after the election. Then, all but one board member will have been elected.
Interim General Counsel Marylin Batista is also facing an uncertain future. She has been negotiating with the board's Chairman Torey Alston, a DeSantis appointee, to keep the job permanently. However, they have not been able to come to terms with her pay. If Batista loses her seat as the board's legal adviser, she will be allowed to return to her previous job as deputy general counsel and forced to take a pay cut.