Sarasota Lawmaker Wants Term Limits For School Board Members

WUSF | By Cathy Carter

Published August 30, 2017 at 7:00 AM EDT

Associated Press

A Florida State Senator wants to ask voters to impose term limits on members of county school boards.

Greg Steube, R-Sarasota has filed a billfor the 2018 legislative session, which starts in January.

Greg Steube is a Republican member of the Florida Senate representing Sarasota County and western Charlotte County.

Steube, the state Senate Judiciary Chairman introduced a measure that would limit school board members to two four-year terms.

Florida lawmakers, the Governor and State Board of Education members all currently face term limits, but school board members do not.

"A lot of these school board members have been here longer than two terms," said Steube. "I think it's important to have a new wave of leadership at these different school boards."

If approved by the Legislature, the proposed constitutional amendment would go on the November 2018 ballot. It would need approval of 60 percent of voters to take effect.

There are 67 school districts in Florida. Each one has an elected school board that generally consists of 5 to 9 members.