Broward County School Board

In his first week on the job as Broward schools' new superintendent, Dr. Peter Licata told WLRN he'll lead with integrity, be a "visible" presence in the district and the community, and will put students first. He also said he's committed to bringing comprehensive sex ed back to the district.

The Broward County School Board has signed off on a three-year contract with Dr. Peter Licata, two weeks later than expected. The agreement will give him a slightly lower salary and less job security than he had hoped for. Still, Licata has called it a "dream job."

The Broward County School Board was poised to vote on the contract of incoming superintendent Peter Licata on Thursday, beginning a new era of leadership for the district. But not enough board members showed up to take a vote, meaning his planned start on Monday will be delayed by days, if not weeks.

Broward's new top leader has spent nearly three decades in neighboring Palm Beach County public schools, most recently as a regional superintendent.

The board met Tuesday to pick their top three candidate for superintendent.

The pool of semifinalists include an internal candidate, an administrator in neighboring Palm Beach County, and other career educators who have worked in Detroit, D.C. and Houston public schools.

The Broward County School Board voted to accept more applications for the district's top job, after the superintendent of the Las Vegas-area school district — the country's fifth largest — voiced interest in the post.

Twenty-six people applied to be the next superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, but the district's search consultant says he's only really confident in two. Florida politics are partially to blame, he says.

The Broward County school district contracts with local law enforcement agencies to have a school resource officer (SRO) on every campus. But the district isn't paying the bill for those services, according to one local police chief.

The board and Superintendent Vickie Cartwright agreed to a mutual separation agreement, suggested by board member Debbi Hixon, on Tuesday. But a vote is still pending.

In a tense and chaotic meeting, the board voted to undo her surprise November firing — with a caveat — while critics bemoaned it as "kicking the can down the road."

The board voted to cement their decision to fire the district's superintendent, just one week before four of the members will be replaced by new members.