By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

The Osceola County School Board at an upcoming special meeting will discuss whether to appoint an interim superintendent or conduct a search for a permanent replacement after current Superintendent Terry Andrews accelerated his planned retirement via email last week after several board members requested his termination.

During the special meeting, tentatively scheduled for July 9 at 9:30 a.m. pending Andrews' schedule, Andrews' transition and succession will be discussed, board members said at a workshop Tuesday.

Board member Cindy Hartig accused Andrews of breech of contract and presented a box of evidence pertaining to such at the June 19 School Board meeting.

Chairman Barbara Horn initially made the motion last week requesting his termination from the position. The motion failed 3-2.

At the workshop, Horn suggested the board begin discussing how to prepare for Andrews replacement, whether to appoint an interim superintendent or conduct a search for a permanent replacement. Andrews last week announced he will retire October 31, nine months earlier than his original date of June 2013.

A superintendent search typically takes between two and four months to complete, School Board attorney Larry Brown said.

Board member Jay Wheeler opposed finding a permanent replacement until after the election in which Hartig is running for re-election and Vice Chairman Julius Melendez, who is running for Congress, will be replaced.

“Whoever gets elected has the right to participate,” Wheeler said.

Board member Tom Long, who referenced a lengthy discussion with Andrews following the email but declined to provide specifics as Andrews was absent from Tuesday's workshop, agreed with Wheeler.

“I don't think that's fair,” he said. “The board would be doing a disservice if we appoint somebody (permanent) before the new board is sat.”

Hartig disagreed, citing discussions with district staff who expressed to her their desire to have a permanent superintendent with at least a three-year contract in place.

“Many people in leadership have said they would like us to put in a superintendent, for that stability. And I understand that,” she said, adding staff should have a say about the matter. “The leadership team has to live with the person.”