Broward County (Fla.) board rescinds firing, decides to keep Vickie Cartwright as superintendent

With several new board members seated last month, the Broward County (Fla.) school board has reversed the decision of the previous board and rescinded the firing of superintendent Vickie Cartwright.

WUSF Public Media reports the vote to keep Cartwright as superintendent passed 5 to 3. Jeff Holness, Debbie Hixon, Allen Zeman, Sarah Leonardi and Nora Rupert voted to rescind the firing, and Torey Alston, Brenda Fam and Lori Alhadeff voted against.

However, a national search for a new superintendent will continue, the board decided, and Cartwright will face another evaluation and a vote on her fate on Jan. 24.

After less than a year-and-a-half in the job, Cartwright was fired last month. At the time, the majority of the board members were appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But the results of the Nov. 8 election meant that four of the five DeSantis appointees were replaced by board members chosen by voters.

Since the vote to oust her, Cartwright has continued running the district, serving out the 60 days' notice of termination outlined in her contract.

At Tuesday's board meeting, more than 20 members of the public signed up to give their opinion. In a heated public comments session, most said they wanted a new superintendent.

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Cartwright's fate as the leader of the nation's sixth-largest school district had been in question since Gov. DeSantis removed four board members from office in August and replaced them with his own picks, giving his appointees a majority on the board.

But on Nov. 22 four of the five DeSantis appointees were replaced by elected board members.