Jacksonville, FL — Jacksonville State Representative Jason Fischer- himself a veteran of the Duval County School Board- has proposed a constitutional amendment that would put term limits on School Board members across the state.
“Eight is enough. It would say you can’t serve as a lifetime School Board member,” Fischer says.
His bill would propose a constitutional amendment limiting School Board members to two four-year terms. He says Florida voters have overwhelmingly supported term limits for other offices in the past, and he believes this would be the same.
“There needs to be innovation, there needs to be new people, there needs to be new ideas, and that’s what term limits will bring,” Fischer says.
Duval County is one Florida county that already imposes term limits on School Board members. Fischer says the common objection to term limits- that there would be a loss of institutional knowledge- is a political argument to help those who want to stay in office stay. He believes progress relies on getting “career politicians” out.
“We need people who are working in today’s economy, focusing on fixing our education system,” he says.
The bill has a match in the State Senate. If the Legislature approves, the measure would then be put to Florida voters in November 2018. 60% of voters would have to support the measure for it to become a Constitutional Amendment.
The Florida Constitution Revision Commission is considering a similar proposal. That group has the authority to put an issue directly on the ballot.