Seth Johnson
The Board of Directors for the Children’s Trust of Alachua County voted unanimously to begin contract negotiations with Marsha Kiner to fill the role of executive director.
The board listened to presentations by both Kiner and Kimberly Lancaster as finalists for the position at a meeting on Tuesday. At the end, Board Member Ken Cornell motioned to accept Kiner as the next head.
Kiner grew up in east Gainesville, attending Lincoln Middle and Buchholz High School. At 17, she experienced the differences between her home in east Gainesville and the westside when she attended high school, Kiner said.
“This is my community,” Kiner told the board. “I learned the value of community right here.”
Kiner attended UF before moving to Georgia for work. Currently, Kiner serves as chief executive officer of the Association of Florida Colleges and brings 16 years of C-suite experience as both CEO and COO.
Kiner emphasized listening to her team and the community as she takes the helm of the Children’s Trust.
You can watch Kiner and Lancaster’s presentations to the board on YouTube.
Alachua County residents voted to create the Children’s Trust in 2018 to provide children’s services in the county. It has a roughly $8 million budget, which is supported by taxpayers.
The trust has been without a permanent head since March, when the board fired the executive director following accusations of misconduct. Kristy Goldwire has served as interim executive director while the board has conducted its search.
So if the GNV Police Chief salary is $200,000/year, what do you think the Alachua County BOCC will set this taxpayer funded “Director” at? More than the last ACPS Superintendent? You just know it will be at least $200,000! To direct an $8M budget? Of course the AC BOCC has big spender ability with taxpayer money! The Children’s Fund would most likely be better served by being managed by anything but AC BOCC liberals!