Sudden Firing of a Florida School Superintendent Sparks Controversy

Debate ensues over whether firing violated Florida's Sunshine Law

Broward County Schools interim superintendent Vickie Cartwright, seen during a visit to the New River Middle School, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Sept. 2, 2021. Lynne Sladky/AP Photo

The sudden firing of a Florida school superintendent has generated debate on whether the move violated state law.

In a surprise move, Broward County Schools superintendent Vickie Cartwright was fired during the district’s scheduled Nov. 14 school board meeting. The firing was immediately challenged by school board vice chair Lori Alhadeff as a possible violation of Florida’s Sunshine Law.

Cartwright’s competency had been called into question at a marathon 11-hour meeting on Oct. 25. At that time, the board voted unanimously to verbally reprimand Cartwright and give her 90 days to demonstrate that she would implement real changes going forward.

However, anger arose again the first week of November after audits revealed the district had been overcharged, repeatedly, by two long-term vendors who allegedly received favoritism in bidding contracts.

After lengthy discussion of the audits at Monday night’s meeting, school board chairman Torey Alston moved to “terminate the superintendent without cause and discuss immediate separation from the district.”

Alston is one of four new members appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in August to sit on the board after a grand jury report recommended that four previous school board members be removed for poorly managing funds.

Following board member Daniel Foganholi’s call for a roll call vote, the board voted, by a measure of five to four, to fire Cartwright.

Sabrina Artiles, Broward County Moms for Liberty chair, said she was pleased with the decision.

“The current Broward County school board has the full support of Moms for Liberty Broward in their decision to remove Superintendent Cartwright,” Artiles said in a statement issued to The Epoch Times. “The parents and community members of Broward have grown tired of the lack of transparency, poor communication, and continual ignorance of their grievances. We are hopeful that the next superintendent will focus on academic achievement, parental involvement in education, communication, and transparency.”

At a meeting on Nov. 15, board member Debbi Hixon made a motion to rescind the vote and redo it, arguing that district policy requires a seven-day notice. Although the Nov. 14 meeting was publicly advertised, there was nothing on the agenda (pdf) to suggest that the board would vote to fire Cartwright.

Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Act, enacted in 1976, established a basic right of access to meetings of boards, commissions, and other governing bodies of state and local governmental agencies or authorities.

School district interim general counsel Marylin Batista indicated Monday night that while not explicitly advertised, the motion to terminate Cartwright was based on an advertised agenda item and therefore did not violate the Sunshine Law.

In response to Hixon’s motion and further discussion of the issue at Tuesday’s meeting, however, Batista said that the school board could have a “cure” meeting, to redo the vote with notice given to the public and “cure” the possibility there was any possible violation of state law.

Artiles contends the vote is already legitimate.

“It is our understanding that the law is open for interpretation,” Artiles told The Epoch Times. “The motion for her removal was presented as a result of the discussion item that is listed on the agenda.”

During the Nov. 15 meeting, motion to rescind the vote was denied. After commending Cartwright for her service, Alston announced the national search for her replacement would begin “very soon.”

On Tuesday, Cartwright demurred when asked by reporters if she would pursue legal action for her firing.

The Epoch Times reached out to Alston, Foganholi, Batista, and Cartwright for comment.