BREAKING: Florida School Boards Association Officially Withdraws From National School Boards Association
By Space Coast Daily // November 30, 2021
Vote was bipartisan, unanimous to withdraw from National School Boards Association
TAMPA, FLORDIA – With the bipartisan unanimous vote on Tuesday, the Florida School Boards Association has joined more than 20 other states who have officially cut ties with the National School Boards Association.
The vote was taken during the Florida School Boards Association’s 71st annual Joint Conference and Board of Directors’ Meeting going on this week at the Grand Hyatt in Tampa.
The Annual Joint Conference provides an opportunity for school board members, superintendents, district staff, and others to network, gain needed insight into the issues and events impacting education, and access valuable professional development opportunities.
Dr. Steve Gallon III, National Chairman of CUBE and the Vice Chairman of Miami Dade Public Schools, presented a passionate speech calling for the support of principals for public education and repeated time and again how the lack of transparency and accountability has led to his support to separate ties with National School Boards Association.
According to Brevard County School Board Member Matt Susin, conversations before the vote were centered around the lack of response to a letter FSBA sent to the NSBA with a list of demands that went unanswered.
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“For years, we have requested a change in culture and direction from the NSBA and instead of working to improve, the organization has chosen a path of continued degradation and lack of leadership,” said Susin, who is the Chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Florida School Boards Association.
“It’s time for Florida to take a role in shaping a new direction for school boards on the national stage with leadership values that are more in line with improving the future of public education.”
Susin said the Pennsylvania School Board Association and other states expressed a willingness to start a new association and other school board members around the state chimed in and lent their support for the separation.
“As a member of the FSBA, I fully support the vote by our board of directors to end our relationship with NSBA,” said Okaloosa County School Board Chairman Tim Bryant.
Kevin Adams, Escambia County School Board Chairman said, “I’m proud of the FSBA board of director members who did the right thing by removing FSBA from the National School Board Association.”
Susin said in the coming months the FSBA will begin the process of tackling the challenge of leading other states in creating a new vision and set of principles for a national organization.
