Polk County Public Schools has recommended four candidates for a vacancy created by the August death of School Board member Rick Nolte.
Under Florida law, Gov. Ron DeSantis has the authority to appoint a replacement for Nolte.
Polk Schools Superintendent Fred Heid described the four candidates in a letter dated Aug. 22 to Commissioner of Education Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas. While acknowledging that the sole authority to fill the vacancy lies with DeSantis, Heid wrote, “the School Board and I humbly request the opportunity to submit names of community members for consideration.”
The vacancy was created by the August death of School Board member Rick Nolte. The four recommended candidates are Christie Bassett, Naomi Boyer, Matt Mucci, and Hazel Sellers.