Time to Establish School Board Term Limits in PBC

        Term limits for the Palm Beach County Commission were established in 2002, following a successful ballot referendum and majority vote by county residents, to two four-year terms or a maximum of eight years in public office.
        The County Commission's transition to term-limited government has worked well with little or no disruption of services to the people. It is now time for the Palm Beach County School Board to follow the Commission's path and institute term limits.
        Two identical bills have been introduced to the Florida Legislature in 2019 (HJR 229 and SJR 274) to achieve this goal. If the joint resolution is approved by the Legislature this year, the measure would appear on the 2020 ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment limiting local school board members across the state to eight years in office.
        The proposed amendment to Article IX of the Florida Constitution reads, "A person may not appear on the ballot for reelection to the office of school board member if, by the end of his or her current term of office, the person will have served, or but for resignation would have served, in that office for eight consecutive years."
        If approved by the voters of Florida, the revised constitutional amendment would have a commencement date of Nov. 3, 2020.
        The Florida Constitutional Reform Committee advocated for proposed school board term limits in 2018. However, the Florida Supreme Court blocked it from the state ballot due to a dispute in the wording of a secondary issue included in the initiative.
        Palm Beach County is one of seven charter counties in Florida that have adopted term limits for its commissioners. Supporters believe democracy is best served when more citizens have an opportunity to participate in elective government. Long-term incumbency by powerful career politicians discourages public participation by new office seekers.
        There are currently five members of the Palm Beach County School Board serving more than eight years. Dr. Debra Robinson has been a member of the board since the year 2000 and was reelected four times. Board members Marcia Andrews and Karen Brill were first elected in November 2010. Their current terms expire in November 2022.
        The current School Board chairman, Frank Barbieri, has served three terms as its chair. He was first elected in 2008 and been a board member for 11 years. Chuck Shaw also has served since 2008.
        Term limits are like a cup of fresh water, used to prime the pumps of our democracy with new leaders and ideas.
(c.) Davidsson. 2019.