Peter Licata starts making the rounds

Dr. Peter Licata, the new Broward schools superintendent, is on a honeymoon tour of sorts. He recently visited Coral Springs City Hall with Broward School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff and two deputies that he recently hired as he finalizes his senior management team. Licata, who comes to Broward after having served as the south region superintendent of Palm Beach County’s schools, knows he has a big challenge ahead of him. 

He replaces Dr. Vickie Cartwright who was booted after a tumultuous tenure. Most board members are supportive of their new hire and doubtlessly want him to succeed. His main goal is turning around the district’s declining enrollment, for example. But it’s unclear how much time he has to do so.

“We are a big school district, and we offer many, many great opportunities for young people,” Licata said in Coral Springs. “We have great medical and health programs, we have computer science programs and we have a huge array of athletic and artistic programs. We have a lot to offer, and we will bring more students to our schools.”

He went on, “There have been negative stories about our schools but those are only isolated incidents. We have many, many teachers who are working very hard to deliver a great education to our students. They are going out of their way every day to help our students be successful. I want to make sure these teachers are appreciated and know they are supported.”