Hillsborough County Elected Superintendent of Schools

United Teachers of Florida (UTF) proudly endorses the Hillsborough County referendum to provide for an elected, rather than appointed, Superintendent of Schools. The referendum would allow Hillsborough County voters to decide whether the Superintendent of Schools should be chosen directly by the electorate instead of being appointed by the School Board. If approved, the superintendent would be elected in a partisan election to a four-year term, beginning with the 2028 general election. The proposal represents a significant change in how the district’s chief executive is selected and accountable to the community. UTF supports giving Hillsborough County voters a direct voice in selecting the individual responsible for leading their public school system. An elected superintendent would be accountable directly to voters and would provide the community with an opportunity to evaluate district leadership through the electoral process. UTF endorses the referendum as an opportunity to strengthen voter participation, transparency, and public accountability in the governance of Hillsborough County Public Schools.