Seminole County

SCPS rescinds vote to hire Lake County Schools assistant superintendent as next superintendent

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County School Board on Tuesday voted 3-2 to rescind their vote to hire Lake County Assistant Superintendent Chad Farnsworth as the next superintendent.

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Community members during the school board meeting Tuesday spoke, saying longtime Seminole County Public Schools attorney Serita Beamon should have been selected instead.

Earlier this month, the school board voted 3-2 for Farnsworth to be the next superintendent.

Farnsworth has 10 years of experience in school and district administration, according to Seminole County Schools. He most recently served as the superintendent over human resources and employee relations/chief of staff for Lake County Public Schools.

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It’s still possible Farnsworth could be the next Seminole County superintendent, but after hearing from the community, they wanted more time to determine if they made the right decision.

Lake County Schools, where Farnsworth currently works, is ranked 45th in the state; Seminole ranks fourth.

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Beamon spent the last 16 years as working with the school board superintendent and district staff as attorney. She worked at various law firms and was admissions counselor for Stetson University. She resigned last week from the school district following the vote to hire Farnsworth.

There will be a special board meeting Monday evening to reconsider that vote and potentially do a revote.


Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.

Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.