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Smooth transition

Broskie takes reigns as interim school district superintendent

By Wesley LeBlanc wesley@opcfla.com
Posted 3/4/20

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – David Broskie was both humbled and excited during his first day on the job Monday after being selected as the interim Clay County School District Superintendent by Gov. Ron …

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Smooth transition

Broskie takes reigns as interim school district superintendent


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – David Broskie was both humbled and excited during his first day on the job Monday after being selected as the interim Clay County School District Superintendent by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Addison Davis, resigned from his position to be the superintendent for the Hillsborough County School District. His final day was Feb. 28, and Broskie began the following Monday. Despite the sudden jump to a new position, Broskie said the day went smoothly.

“I’m overwhelmed by the support that I’ve received both from inside and outside the school system, from all of our school board members and teachers,” Broskie said. “Right now, I have about 127 emails in my inbox all saying congratulations and that part is a bit overwhelming and humbling.”

Broskie said he never sought the limelight that comes with being the superintendent, but he felt excited to work in it. Broskie has been with the school district since 1989 when he was a teacher and coach at Lakeside Junior High. He also taught at Clay High after that before becoming the assistant principal at the school.

He then was the principal of Orange Park Junior High, which led to him becoming the principal of Middleburg High and later Oakleaf High. He then took the position of Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, a job he held until Gov. DeSantis selected him to be superintendent until Clay County voters decide who the superintendent should be this November.

When he got the call from Gov. DeSantis on Feb. 24, Broskie was excited about the opportunity and grateful for the governor’s trust in him to run the district for at least nine months.

“It was humbling and exciting, but it was really just a transition from upstairs to downstairs [in the district office],” Broskie said.

In his previous position as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Broskie was responsible for all district employees. He had a hand in hiring, in firing, in retirements, in promotions, in union contracts and discipline, amongst other things, in that position.

“The role of Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources translates really well because we’re in a people business,” Broskie said. “School systems are made of communities and stakeholders and the ability to bring them altogether for a common goal is what I was already doing. Now, I get to look forward to doing it as Superintendent of Schools.”

Broskie knows he has some big shoes to fill. Under Davis’ leadership, the school district went from a B to an A district, with the number of A schools jumping from seven to 27. The graduation rate rose to its highest ever at 92% with the achievement gap between African-American and white students smaller than ever before.

“A lot of celebrations not only academically, but financially,” Broskie said. “Our finances are in much better shape. Our fund balance is higher and our bond rating is better.”

Broskie plans visit the schools as much as possible. He said it’s important to get into as many classrooms as possible before the school year starts to wrap up near the end of May. He plans to steer the district further in the direction it was already heading: toward success.

“There are even brighter days for the Clay County School District ahead,” Broskie said. “I’m a career educator and I think it’s important in a school system that an educator be at the helm. It’s important that you’ve actually run a school before running a school district and so with those experiences behind me, I will continue to make Clay County district schools the best that they can be.”