News

Public ignores special meeting

By Matt Reinig | Hernando Today
Published: December 13, 2012

BROOKSVILLE - A special school board meeting scheduled specifically for the public to comment on what they would like to see in the next superintendent of Hernando County School District began Tuesday at 6 p.m.

It ended 15 minutes later with a gavel slam.

"I'm rather disappointed that the public didn't come to talk to us about one of the most important positions in our county," School Board Vice Chairman Matt Foreman said.

But before that happened, or didn't happen depending on how one chooses to look at it, the special hearing was promoted on the Hernando County School District website, on a marquee at the district office, displayed in a paid legal advertisement, aired on the Hernando County Government channel and on Hernando Instructional Television, was broadcast through a public service announcement on WWJB radio and brought to the attention of all school district employees via email.

"This meeting has been pretty well advertised; I don't know how to read it," Superintendent Bryan Blavatt said.

"It's unfortunate from my perspective as a superintendent. I've been managed to be reached by a plethora of people when they're unhappy. If they're unhappy they should talk to the board."

Board member Dianne Bonfield said she cannot recall there ever being an overwhelming attendance for public hearings in the past concerning a superintendent candidate search.

"We usually have one, two, three, four at a time, but this time we didn't," Bonfield said. "The public has never hesitated to call the board about who they thought should be our chief executive officer."

Board member John Sweeney said at this stage in the selection process, things just haven't heated up yet.

"It'll be more active when we start sorting through the candidates," Sweeney said. "We'll see more interest."

The deadline for submission of candidates is Jan. 9. An 11-member search committee will review the applications and give its recommendations to board members in February.

Applications will be accepted from those with at least a master's degree. Once a list of candidates is selected, there will be a "Meet the Candidates" forum. Traditionally, the forum is well-attended.

"Very well-attended," Bonfield said. "And we will do that again."

So far, the list of candidates for the superintendent position includes:

mreinig@hernandotoday.com (352) 544-5271