Comment on Three outsiders chosen as Broward superintendent finalists

The search for the next Broward schools superintendent is down to three candidates, and one of them is not longtime administrator Valerie Wanza, an employee favorite. Each School Board member picked up to three people among a group of seven semifinalists to choose as finalists. After a lengthy and heated discussion over the process, including failed motions to expand the finalist pool to four to include Wanza, the School Board ultimately agreed to stick to three. Peter Licata, regional superintendent, Palm Beach County Schools, received six votes (from Lori Alhadeff, Brenda Fam, Sarah Leonardi, Norah Rupert, Debbie Hixon and Daniel Foganholi). Luis Solano, deputy superintendent for the Detroit Public Schools Community District, also received six votes (Jeff Holness, Alhadeff, Fam, Hixon, Leonardi and Rupert). Sito Narcisse, superintendent, East Baton Rouge School District, received five votes (Torey Alston, Allen Zeman, Alhadeff, Fam and Foganholi). Wanza, the district’s chief of staff, placed fourth after receiving four votes — Alston, Foganholi, Hixon and Holness. Other eliminated candidates were Jason Nault, an associate superintendent in Waukegan, Ill.; Wanda Paul, chief operating officer for the Houston Independent School District; and Rita Raichoudhuri, former superintendent in Kalamazoo, Mich. Related Articles Education | Seven semifinalists chosen for Broward schools superintendent Education | Broward School Board agrees to observe prayer day Education | School uniforms could be required in Broward schools Education | ‘The pool is weak’: School Board underwhelmed by superintendent candidates Numerous public speakers, including principals, labor representatives and some members of Broward’s Black community, urged the board to choose Wanza.