FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Broward’s newest School Board members wasted no time showing changes were coming, as they selected one of their own as the new chairman.
Torey Alston — one of five members recently appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (one in May and four last week) — was elected as the new chairman 5-4. The four longer-serving board members wanted Lori Alhadeff to hold that role. She was elected vice chair.
Alston, who recently stepped down as county commissioner, is a former student representative on the School Board.
DeSantis appointed Alston and three others — Manuel “Nandy” A. Serrano, Ryan Reiter and Kevin Tynan — on Friday after suspending four School Board members recommended for removal by a statewide grand jury report. DeSantis also appointed Daniel Foganholi in May to replace Rosalind Osgood, who stepped down to become a state senator.
The new board members made clear that addressing problems identified by the grand jury would be a focus of the new board, including the problematic $800 million bond to renovate schools.
“My goal is to ensure holding our staff accountable to present clear and actionable resolution to all outlined in the report soon and very soon,” Alston said.
———
