Mark Rendell elected new Superintendent of Brevard Public Schools

2 months looking for something new Superintendent of Brevard Public Schools Done in about an hour and a half of Tuesday morning board meeting: Local Candidates Mark Rendell lead the district.

The Board first voted at 10:17 a.m. and passed the motion 3-2. Board chair Matt Sushin, Megan Wright and Jean Trent voted for Rendell, while Katie Campbell and Jennifer Jenkins voted against.

Rendell’s vote was driven by multiple factors, with Susin, Wright, and Trent specifically citing community support.

“This is the person we need. We are thrilled as a community,” Trent said. “That’s overwhelmingly what I’m getting.”

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The only historical candidate in Brevard County, Rendell began working as a BPS teacher in 1993, later as an assistant principal, before becoming principal of Titusville High School in 2001, according to his resume.

He left Brevard in 2006, but returned in 2019 as a Principal at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. Hi, where he currently works. In between these roles, Rendell spent a short stint at a high school in North Carolina, St. He served as principal in Lucy County and later as an assistant and assistant superintendent. He served as Superintendent of Indian River County Schools from 2015 to 2019.

“I am both honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to serve in this role in Brevard County,” Rendell said in a statement distributed by BPS spokesperson Russell Brune. I look forward to working with all the members of the School District and the staff of the school district to support the work of the classroom.I believe that this is a team effort and that if we all work together, we can achieve excellence. increase.”

Both Campbell and Jenkins adamantly opposed Rendell’s election and endorsed Scott Schneider, principal of Duval County Public Schools, as a finalist.

“The members of this board believe they owe an apology to the members of this board for wasting time and money in a process that was clearly lacking in integrity. Frankly, you are a candidate too. “I think we owe it to the public to apologize,” Jenkins said. “This is another embarrassing moment for our public schools. Shame.”

Campbell said her goal is to be a team player and that she will work with the new superintendent, although she doesn’t believe he’s the best option.

“I will definitely work with him. I will hold him accountable,” she said. “For the benefit of our community, I absolutely support him because that’s what we need to move forward.”

Jenkins added that she also stands by Rendell and only wants the district to make progress.

The Board held a second ceremonial ballot for a 5-0 vote. All directors except Jenkins voted for Rendell.

Public support for Rendell at Tuesday’s meeting was split. In the public comment section of the conference, he had six voices, three of whom were for Rendell and three against him.

During the discussion, Wright insisted on Rendell’s endorsement, saying that the majority of the feedback on the three candidates was about him through emails and public surveys.

Campbell disputed this, saying he got the most feedback in the entire survey, but said it was “biased”. she added.

Rendell will be the third Superintendent since the Board ousted former Superintendent Mullins in November. The newly elected board of directors debated the possibility of not renewing Mullins’ contract, and Mullins resigned before being brought up to vote.

Following Mullins’ resignation, Robert Shiller was elected interim superintendent of schools, taking over the role in January. However, an internal memo from Schiller denouncing the superintendent’s search schedule and “immaturity” on the board sparked a public tussle, and at the March board meeting he took a leave of absence. Acting director Su Han was appointed shortly after his dismissal, as a nationwide search for a new leader took place.

Stratton withdrew from the finalist pool on April 25 due to a dispute in Hernando County with a teacher who reportedly made threatening comments about a student.

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The superintendent search attracted 33 candidates from around the country at the end of March and was narrowed down to 11 semi-finalists from Florida on April 4. From there, the board selected four finalists at its April 18 meeting: Rendell, Schneider, and Jason Wysong of Seminole County and Jason Stratton of Hernando County.

The superintendent’s survey drew far fewer applicants than the 2015 survey, which recruited 106 applicants, although both Katye Campbell and Matt Susin noted the low number of applicants. He said he didn’t see it as a unique problem. They took up Charlotte County, where the superintendent retired and the search only got him 20 applicants.

The Board has not yet set a date to begin Rendell’s term, but it will take place amid heated debate. Possible changes in disciplinary policies and procedures after an audit. Shortage of bus drivers and teachers.

Finch Walker is an educational reporter for FLORIDA TODAY.contact walker 321-290-4744 again fwalker@floridatoday.com. twitter: @_finch walker.