Orlando Sentinel, Editorial: June 9, 2008
Roger Chapin

Why an elected School Board chair? Visibility

Last week, the citizens of Orange County made history. For the first time ever, an initiative led by residents collected more than 50,000 signatures from voters and presented them to the Supervisor of Elections and the Orange County School Board, in order to place an important question on the ballot.

The question is simple: Do Orange County voters want to choose their own School Board chairman?

Currently, members of the board pass the job around among themselves, selecting a new chairman every year.

While the question is simple, giving voters the opportunity to answer it was not. Initially, School Board members said they would allow this question to be on the ballot. Then they broke that promise and decided not to let us vote. Why are they so happy with the status quo?

I, along with many key supporters and more than 50,000 registered voters from throughout Orange County, think the citizens have every right to decide an important question that affects their schools and their children.

But let me be up front: I also support an elected School Board chairman. I believe it would provide greater accountability, improve citizen interaction and communication, and give us the opportunity to choose someone who can articulate a broader, countywide vision for our children's education. But the main reason I support this change is because an elected Orange County School Board chairman can give the school system greater VISIBILITY.

Right now our School Board has no real leader. For the past five months, as I've advocated for this change, I've found that most people could not name their School Board representative, much less that representative's educational priorities. I don't question members' dedication to our children, but they're just not getting their message across.

I believe a strong elected leader can make a difference. A strong elected leader can convey the many positive stories about our school system, better communicate the district's needs to Tallahassee and ultimately give citizens a face for Orange County Public Schools. A strong elected leader representing our schools should be at the table with the mayors when important decisions are made about our community.

I've seen firsthand a new form of government emerge and succeed in Orange County with the creation of the Orange County mayor in 1990. Imagine a countywide elected School Board chairman from one of the most important political regions in the country. Don't you think that person is going to have some real influence? Don't you believe citizens in Orange County will be able to identify that person and his or her priorities?

Some say the position will be too powerful. Others complain the position isn't strong enough. Some mistakenly confuse that an elected chairman will replace the appointed superintendent.

I believe that the voters should have a chance to choose the person who will lead a school system that's the 11th largest in the nation, has a $1.4 billion budget and -- most important of all -- serves 178,000 of our precious children. And I've got 51,281 registered voters, who signed petitions and made history in Orange County, who agree.