Trails in the Sand by Peter Traceit, the Street Detective
Ol Pete watched as New Pete negotiated his contract as the next Broward superintendent with Board attorney, Marilyn Batista and Board Vice Chair, Debra Hixon. Ol Pete was surprised that New Pete didn’t start the salary bidding at $400,000. For Pete’s sake, he must have heard that Board members are tight on the wallet. Since they only make a first-year teacher salary, their most passionate argument is always around raising teacher pay, which ultimately raises their salary. Legislation in 2018 required that school board members be paid their district’s starting teacher salary. Super Pete started his bidding at $375,000 and settled on $360,000 in salary and a few perks.
The Detective found it interesting that the Ol Namesake wants a Super Majority in order to separate from his employment. Typically, an employee separates with a majority vote against them. In the case of this Board, it would require a 5-4 vote to terminate. Super Pete wants a Super Majority of 6-3 to separate While this would be ideal as far as the odds of keeping his job, but what Ol Pete wants New Pete to understand is with this Board, once you get a whiff that you have lost favor and are treading the sand on a single thread to the tune of 5-4 confidence, you need to start looking for the exit door. Without a healthy support of the Board, it’s like treading in muddy quicksand. You can barely get anything done when a Board doesn’t overwhelmingly respect and want your leadership. Prolonging the inevitable to 6-3 not in his favor makes for a Vickie Cartwright situation. That is a dirty trail that no one wants to go down.
Furthermore, the Board denied a Super Majority for its Board Attorney, Marilyn Batista only a few months ago. The Board only has three employees: The Super, The board Attorney and the Chief Auditor. What’s good for one bucket of sand is good for the other! How could they deny Batista and then vote to give the Duper Majority to Pete Licata. But, knowing this Board, it could happen.
The Detective saved the most interesting piece of dirty news for last. It would seem that the New Pete doesn’t want a new address. The Pete hails from West Palm Beach by way of Broward. However, he does not want to return as a resident in his old stomping ground. New, Pete wants to commute from Palm Beach to Broward daily. Now, Ol Pete enthusiastically welcomes the Ol Namesake, however, there are some reservations creeping up in the sand. Not moving to your new backyard is a slight dealbreaker. You can’t say you’re committed when in this relationship when you’re in one sand pile by day and another sand pile by night.
For Pete’s sake, fully commit.
Rumors swirling in the sand say that there is a state law that makes it illegal for new Pete to live, work and play in two separate sandboxes.
Ol Pete has dug up this law, but it hasn’t quite cleared the sand trappings yet. The one The Detective has excavated deals with elected officials, and the superintendent of Broward is appointed. But as usual, Ol Pete will stay knee-deep in the sand sifting and sleuthing for clues.
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