EC Superintendent Tim Smith will not resign after legislator calls for him to step down

Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, is calling for Escambia County School District Superintendent Tim Smith to resign, but Smith says he "will stay the course."

Salzman sent a letter to Smith and the Escambia County School Board on Wednesday, calling on him to step down from his position, saying he has failed to take actions she requested on several issues.

"For the sake of our children’s future in Escambia County, we must have a true leader," Salzman said. "If our school board as a majority cannot make this choice for our children, I am asking Dr. Smith to make it for them."

Smith responded to Salzman's letter in a written statement to the News Journal saying he would not resign.

"Because we are truly united for every student to succeed, I will not resign," Smith said. "There is much difficult work to be done, addressing many issues that have long pre-dated my time in Escambia County. We will stay the course and will not lose focus on what is most important, our students. To that end, I would implore our community to support us in this mission and not make hasty decisions or jump to rash conclusions based on misinformation."

Salzman's letter comes as School Board member Kevin Adams has pledged to bring an item requesting a new referendum to return the school district to the elected superintendent system despite the appointed system being approved by a majority of Escambia County voters in 2018.

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Smith took office in November 2020 as the school system was still in the grips of how to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smith defended his leadership of the school district last month after Adams announced he was bringing a resolution for a new referendum to the board in March.

"This is not an easy school district," Smith said. "There are many, many challenges. It's one of the things that attracted me to the district."

Smith said the district's problems will take time to solve but he sees progress every day when he walks the halls of the county's schools.

"Do you know what the 5th-grade science teach at Oakcrest Elementary is doing where every one of his kids is engaged, and they're learning about the bones in the body or whatever the particular unit is? I've seen it. I walk the hallways of Bailey Middle School, and the kids are doing what they're supposed to be doing. I go in classroom, after classroom, after classroom, and I see high levels of engagement. Not perfect all the time in every school, but I'm seeing teachers work hard and seeing kids engaged in a learning process."

Smith said it's easy to complain, but he doesn't he doesn't hear conversations in the community about actual solutions to the problems.

"We've got people dedicated and working hard, and I just hope somehow and some way the easy out − to kick the superintendent to the curb − is not our answer," Smith said. "I think we're better than that. I think it's going to take time. I think it's challenging, this is part of what I'm articulating here. This is not easy work."

News Journal Reporter Brittany Misencik contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia County Superintendent Tim Smith will not resign after Salzman