Alachua County School District one step closer to starting superintendent search

The Gainesville Sun | By Chelsea Long | November 5, 2025

The Alachua County School Board at its Nov. 4 meeting unanimously voted to conduct a search for a permanent superintendent through a request for proposal (RFP). The process, a nationwide search for a firm that will be responsible for finding candidates to present to the board, will take anywhere from six to 12 weeks.

The RFP is expected to cost the district between $48,000 and $55,000.

Board members disagreed about when the search for a permanent superintendent would start. At an Oct. 15 workshop, they argued about whether the search would begin as early as summer 2026 or a couple years from now, in 2028.

Board member Thomas Vu reiterated at the Nov. 4 meeting that he would prefer a 2027 start date to allow for a smooth transition, ensure the district is ready for new leadership and to attract good candidates.

“My number one fear is moving too quickly and having a failed search,” he said. “That’s a reputation cost I’m not willing to bear.”

He and Vice Chair Tina Certain would like interim Superintendent Kamela Patton to extend her contract through 2027.

Patton said she would be willing to extend her contract through June 2027, if necessary, as the district conducts its search for a permanent leader.

She was appointed to the interim position in November 2024. Patton’s contract was initially approved through June 30, 2025. Patton and the school board agreed to extend the contract in January through June 2026.

Certain, citing the board’s tumultuous history conducting superintendent searches, said the district is dealing with issues that need to take priority over the search. She said she would not vote to start a search for a permanent superintendent right now.

The district is being monitored by the Florida Department of Education for the 2025-2026 school year after the state board determined that the district violated a parent’s First Amendment rights during a heated meeting on July 31.

The district is also planning to consolidate and rezone schools to address under-enrollment and operational inefficiencies.

Board member Leanetta McNealy said extending Patton’s contract until 2027 was unacceptable and that the district needs permanent leadership as soon as possible, regardless of the issues it’s facing.

“We’ve weathered a lot of change lately. Every time leadership changes, priorities will shift and momentum can stall.” McNealy said. “Our educators and staff deserve to know that their hard work is building toward something lasting. Stability at the top fosters trust at every level.”

The timeline for the superintendent candidate search and date of hire will not be determined until the district has hired a search firm.

The board also unanimously approved a 3% salary increase and collective bargaining agreement for teachers and educational support professionals. The district will retroactively apply the raises to the start of employees’ 2025-2026 contract.

The district and the Alachua County Education Association (ACEA) reached an agreement on salary increases after a record five weeks of negotiations.

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and the district’s chief negotiator, Deborah Terry, commended union members and negotiators on working around the clock to come to an agreement.

More than 2,000 employees voted in favor of the 3% increase, while 26 employees voted against the plan.

“Their willingness to go above and beyond is a testament to the passion and dedication we all share for our profession and for the betterment of Alachua County Public Schools,” Terry said.