FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Broward County School Board members have wrapped up negotiations and officially named Earlean Smiley the district’s interim superintendent Wednesday, replacing Vickie Cartwright.
As Local 10 News reported on Monday, contract negotiations with Smiley began days after the school board approved a separation agreement, with immediate effect, with Cartwright.
It’s the latest in what board member Nora Ruppert called a “hot mess” and “crazy carousel of chaos,” with the district having gone through two superintendents in just a few years.
Smiley, a former deputy superintendent with the district, is set to make a $300,000 annual salary in the role, which will be prorated based on the amount of time she serves.
“Love brought me forward,” she said.
Smiley highlighted her priorities as she temporarily took charge of the district Wednesday.
“Safety is paramount. I want to make sure that the behavior threat assessment systems are working properly and that schools are really secure,” she said. “I want to make sure that teachers have what they need in terms of resources to get the jobs done. And I want to make sure our students understand that we love them and their voices count.”
Besides safety, Smiley said a top priority is diagnosing the health of the school system.
“We need to assess, we need to diagnose, find out what is functional, what is not functioning and to make plans to address those issues,” she said.
Smiley is expected to remain in the role until July 1, by when board members hope to have hired a new, permanent superintendent.
She told local reporters that she had no interest in holding the position permanently as of now.
“That is not an option,” Smiley said.