Don Hall accepts interim superintendent position

Since he started as the deputy superintendent of operations in 2013, Don Hall's calendar has been full.

Finding ways to cut dollars and ease the budget woes of an $8.9 million financial hole, Hall has been one of former Superintendent Rick Mill's right-hand officials. Now, Hall will step in as the interim superintendent, following the School Board's May 12 decision to end Mill's tenure with the district early, rather than his July 31 retirement date.

Mills is released from daily operations, School Board member Dr. Mary Cantrell said. He will be "bought out" of his contract for five months from today. Hall will start as interim superintendent today, and is being sworn in at 11 a.m. at the School Support Center, 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

"You can't have two superintendents in here doing the same job, and we need to have an interim in place," Cantrell said.

Hall stressed that although he will stand in until a full time regular superintendent is elected later this year, he doesn't want the position.

"I do not want to be the superintendent," Hall said. "That's not my goal. But, my goal is to serve the county and the students."

According to Florida Statutes, an interim superintendent can't be hired on as the district's superintendent, but a district must have a superintendent at all times.

"We can't have a superintendent be gone tomorrow without an interim," School Board member Bob Gause said.

A new candidate must be chosen, which Hall and School Board member Charlie Kennedy feel should be Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum Diana Greene.

Greene didn't volunteer for the interim position, because she would like to be considered for the regular position. She was also in the running when Mills was chosen in 2012.

"I feel if I volunteer for interim, then I'm losing that opportunity to serve Manatee County, which is what I want to do," Greene said.

After Cantrell's motion to nominate Hall, the School Board voted 4-1 to have Hall take the reigns over the next few months, with only Kennedy dissenting, because he wanted Greene hired immediately.

"Anyone who knows Dr. Greene knows she's a uniter, and needless to say, we have three financing items that will be on the ballot," Kennedy said. "My fear is we lose momentum for upcoming school year with all things school principals are working on for 2015-2016. We did this exact process two years ago, and all she has done since then is improve her resume."

The district plans to open its search soon and hopes to have an individual selected by the fall.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].