Voters Choose School Leader Method

Hillsborough County residents cast ballots on Tuesday to determine who holds the power to select the district’s top education administrator. The referendum asks voters to choose between two methods: keeping the superintendent selection in the hands of the school board or switching to a direct partisan election led by the public.

The district currently operates under an A rating and maintains the highest rate of students graduating every year. These metrics form the basis for the argument against changing the current appointment process. The ballot question seeks to shift control from an elected board body to a popular vote.

Ali Wilbur, a parent of a student in the Hillsborough County Schools, spoke with reporters and opposed the measure. She argued that voters already have a say in who leads schools because they elect the board members who make the hiring decision. Wilbur expressed concern that a partisan race would draw political parties into the selection process. She stated that parties might pour money into the campaign, making the outcome depend more on party strategy than on local student needs. Wilbur also noted the risk of being stuck with an ineffective leader for a full four-year term without an immediate way to replace them.

Rob Kriete, president of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, questioned the need for the change. He pointed to the district’s high graduation rate as evidence that the system is working. Kriete warned that a direct election could lead to candidates who lack experience in public education. He stated that students would likely be the ones to suffer under a new political structure.

Michael Owen, the state representative who championed the measure, supported the change. Owen said parents and voters should determine who acts as the CEO of their children’s education. He argued that leaving the decision to an appointed board denies residents a direct voice in this specific role.

The result of the Tuesday vote will decide whether the superintendent continues to be appointed by the school board or becomes a position elected by the county’s voters.