The Hillsborough County School Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to reorganize the school district.
- 8 area superintendents will oversee smaller areas within district
- High-ranking district directors, other leaders will need to reapply
- All jobs expected to be filled by July 1
Superintendent Jeff Eakins has been on the job for less than a year, but he is ready to shake things up.
"We can't be a one-size-fits-all organization," he said. "We can't be a centrally-controlled organization. We must be a very balanced organization."
Eakins says that in order to make that happen, there needs to be a shift in control. He plans to put a lot of emphasis on eight area superintendents who will be in charge of their areas, almost like they are smaller school districts.
"That means we have to have sometimes give trust, that means we have to show trust," he said.
It also means a number of high-ranking district directors and other leaders will have to reapply for their jobs.
"I would not have asked to re-interview had I not known that we have to make this shift in the organization," Eakins said. "And therefore we have to look at skill sets to meet the needs of schools, community members and students."
Some audience members at the school board meeting said they are ready to give his plan a chance.
"This is about the kids," resident Eddie Adams said. "This is not about grown-ups and adults. This is about how we get a better school system."
But others encouraged him to proceed with caution.
"So going through the interviews you might find some real true talent out there in the district, but observe them for a while," one woman said.
Under the plan, some departments will merge, some jobs will be created and others will be eliminated.
Eakins said he hopes to have all of the jobs filled by July 1.
Eakins hinted he doesn't plan to stop there. He says as things move forward, more changes could be coming.