Title
Presentation By The Hollywood Education Advisory Committee, Recognizing Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Robert W. Runcie For Being Selected As Florida’s 2016 Superintendent Of The Year By The Florida Association Of District School Superintendents (FADSS).
Body
Staff Recommends: Presentation of Item.
Explanation:
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Robert W. Runcie was selected as Florida’s 2016 Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS). Superintendent Runcie received the honor Wednesday, December 2, 2015, during a joint meeting of FADSS and the Florida School Boards Association in Tampa.
Mr. Runcie was appointed BCPS Superintendent in October 2011, and is now entering his fifth year leading the sixth largest public school system in the nation and the second largest in the state of Florida.
During his tenure as BCPS Superintendent, Mr. Runcie was instrumental in spearheading community support for an $800 million General Obligation Bond in November 2014, which passed with 74 percent voter approval. This additional revenue source provides BCPS with needed funding for safety and modernization of schools, as well as updated technology, as part of its SMART (Safety, Music & Art, Athletics, Renovation and Technology) initiative.
Additional BCPS education initiatives under Mr. Runcie’s leadership include:
• Becoming a national model for rethinking school discipline through its intervention strategy called PROMISE, which is creating positive outcomes for BCPS students and the community.
• Implementing innovative programs and engaging learning opportunities for all students including scholastic chess for all 2nd and 3rd grade students; the largest debate program in the nation - in all high schools and expanding in middles schools; computer science courses in all high schools; and expanding dual language programs and investing in music and the arts.
• Continuously improving management of BCPS business operations to deliver significant savings for reinvestment in BCPS students, teachers and schools.
“Bob Runcie is an outstanding superintendent with a single focus and commitment to student success,” states FADSS President and Orange County Superintendent Barbara Jenkins. “His instructional and operational expertise provide purposeful direction to one of the nation’s largest urban school districts. Highly respected by his colleagues, Bob well represents the educational leaders of Florida,” adds Jenkins.
“Bob is not only an exceptional superintendent with a proven track record of success; he is a true servant leader committed to educational excellence,” states FADSS Chief Executive Officer and Florida Senator Bill Montford. “He is an asset to the association and his leadership is valued by his colleagues throughout the state, in large part due to his ability to recognize the significant challenges statewide regardless of district size,” adds Montford.
The process for electing Florida’s Superintendent of the Year was established by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), a national organization of school superintendents and other educational leaders. In February 2016, Mr. Runcie will represent all Florida superintendents at the AASA’s National Education Conference in Phoenix, Arizona where he will be recognized and honored for his public education service in Florida.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Dr. Wazir Ishmael, City Manager
Gus Zambrano, Assistant City Manager for Sustainable Development and Interim Director, Department of Development Services