
The School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) held a workshop on Wednesday morning, with most of the discussion centered around the search for a permanent superintendent and what the process would look like.
Dr. Kamela Patton has been serving as the district’s interim superintendent since November 2024. This followed a split vote by the SBAC to fire former Superintendent Shane Andrew in October 2024.
During the workshop, the board discussed several topics regarding the search for a long-term leader, including whether it would be state or national and if the search would start right away or at a future time.
Patton’s contract originally had her serving in an interim capacity from November 2024 through this past June. However, she offered to extend her contract for an additional year in January to give more time to search for a permanent replacement and to allow a transition period between her and the next superintendent.
In extending her contract, Patton is supposed to serve in the interim role until June 2026.
Depending on the search timeline the board decided at the workshop, Board Chair Sarah Rockwell asked Patton if she would be willing to extend her contract beyond June 2026.
“I would entertain staying on an additional year, if it was needed,” Patton replied.
In response, Rockwell said what the board needed to have a conversation about was whether the district is currently positioned to do a superintendent search and attract quality candidates.
Board Member Thomas Vu said at this time, he doesn’t believe the district is currently in a spot where it would draw in the desired candidate for the position, noting the amount of work that needs to be done in terms of “stabilizing district operations.” However, he added that the search process does need to begin.
“I like the idea of…Dr. Patton staying on, extending the contract another year, and then starting the search – figuring out what [search] firm we want…hearing those out, debating as a board,” he said. “Whether it’s just internal candidates within the state of Florida…and then what would that start date be?”
While appreciative of what Patton has done in her brief tenure, Board Member Leanetta McNealy said it’s time to move forward.
“Our students, staff and community deserve the stability and long-term vision that comes with a permanent superintendent,” McNealy said. “Dr. Patton has made meaningful progress, but it’s time to have the search and bring in a leader who will ensure lasting growth, as well as stability for our district.”
Board Member Tina Certain was in agreement with Vu about the district not being in a state right now to attract the caliber of a candidate that is needed, noting the recent order issued by the State Board of Education to the SBAC after the State Board found probable cause that the SBAC violated a parent’s First Amendment rights, as well as Florida law, at a heated school board meeting on July 31.
“That is a real big cloud,” she said.
Certain also said she would lean toward extending Patton for another year.
Board Member Janine Plavac was on board with starting the search and seeing how it plays out.
“I know we’re under this mandate from the state, but maybe the state would appreciate us taking that step and looking to see what’s out there, rather than not taking that step,” she said.
In addressing Plavac’s comment, Rockwell noted how there is a cost associated with doing a search.
“It’s not free. If we do it and don’t get good candidates, that is money that has gone down the drain,” Rockwell said. “The second piece of that is, if you conduct a search and don’t get good candidates, it is a negative on your record for conducting another search later. So, if we conducted a search, didn’t get any good candidates, extended Dr. Patton’s contract a year and conducted another search a year later, we would be in a worse position from having had a failed search right before that.”
Rockwell also noted the importance of doing a Request for Proposal (RFP).
In this case, an RFP would help the district identify potential search firms to assist in the superintendent hiring process.
One of the firms Rockwell mentioned as a possible option was the Florida School Board Association (FSBA).
“FSBA has done several [superintendent] searches in the past for this district,” she said.
Rockwell said she would be interested in having Patton stay on for an extra year, putting out the RFP in the “next month or so” and finalizing a search company and timeline to have it all ready for the 2026-27 school year.
Several of the board members agreed on the RFP process and timeline Rockwell suggested.
Toward the end of discussions, McNealy said she would like the superintendent search to be added to the agenda for the next regular board meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4.
“You may be saying the same very thing that you’re saying as a group now, but I think the public needs to hear everything…,” she said.
Looking at Board Attorney David Delaney, Rockwell said she didn’t see the purpose of “having a discussion item” since the board had already discussed the search in the workshop.
“If you’re asking for a vote, that would be an action item,” Rockwell said while addressing McNealy.
Delaney said, “My suggestion, based on the discussion I’ve heard from the board, the direction given today is…staff will be bringing a recommendation to start an RFP. And so, the board could be voting on initiating the RFP process, and there can be discussion about that.”
The Nov. 4 board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. inside the District Office Board Room (620 E. University Ave.).
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.