The Alachua County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is calling for the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) to start the process of finding a permanent superintendent.  

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. 

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 another year (June 2026) in January to give more time to search for a permanent replacement and to allow a transition period between her and the next superintendent. 

During an Oct. 15 workshop, in which SBAC members discussed the search for a permanent replacement and what the process would look like, Patton said she would “entertain staying on” beyond 2026, if it was needed.” 

In a letter addressed to members of the SBAC, Evelyn Foxx, president of the Alachua County NAACP, said the district, staff and community need “the stability and long-term vision that only a permanent superintendent can provide.” 

Foxx noted that while Patton has “initiated certain positive changes, there are serious and growing concerns throughout the district that cannot be ignored.” 

Among the concerns Foxx outlined in the letter are too many initiatives being introduced in a short period of time. She said this has overwhelmed “instructional staff and administrators” and that “many long-standing, effective practices have been abandoned without sufficient evaluation or input.” 

Foxx also noted that staff morale “is at an all-time low.” 

“Employees across schools and the district office are leaving due to lack of support and fear of retaliation,” she said. “The leadership team is perceived as disengaged and ineffective, spending most of their time in internal meetings rather than supporting schools.” 

Another concern addressed by Foxx was that high dollars were being spent on ineffective programs.  

She specifically noted that $1.4 million was spent on Instructional Empowerment, a program she said schools report is “difficult to manage and not well received.” 

Foxx also said $90,000 was devoted to Magma Math – another initiative that she said “received pushback from schools.” 

Mainstreet reached out to the school district Tuesday afternoon for comment on the concerns Foxx listed in the letter and had not received a response by press time. 

The letter in its entirety can be found below.  

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.