Broward Circuit Judge Elijah H. Williams left, swears in Peter B. Licata, right, as the superintendent of Broward County Public Schools at the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center’s boardroom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. BCPS is the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida.
Carl Juste
cjuste@miamiherald.com
Resting his right hand on the Bible and raising his left in the air, Peter Licata vowed on Tuesday to fulfill his duties as superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, the sixth largest school district in the nation and second largest in the state.
In the five-minute swearing-in ceremony — Broward Circuit Court Judge Elijah H. Williams swore in Licata, as his wife Judy Licata stood beside him at the Kathleen C. Wright Building in Fort Lauderdale.
Broward Circuit Judge Elijah H. Williams left, swears in Peter B. Licata, right, with his wife Judy holding the Bible, as the superintendent of Broward County Public Schools at the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center’s boardroom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Judy Licata holds the Bible that was used for the swearing in of her husband Peter B. Licata as the superintendent of Broward County Public Schools at the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center’s boardroom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
On June 15, the School Board hired Licata, previously a regional superintendent in Palm Beach County Public Schools, as its new superintendent.
On July 11, the board approved a three-year contract for Licata with an annual salary of $350,000 and additional $20,000 in performance bonuses. As part of that employment agreement, he will move his residence from Boynton Beach in Palm Beach County to somewhere in Broward County.
Licata, 58, didn’t speak during the Tuesday ceremony.
Peter B. Licata reacts while taking his seat after being sworn in by Broward Circuit Judge Elijah H. Williams as superintendent of Broward County Public Schools at the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center’s boardroom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
For his part, Williams told Licata that he often worked with the school district and knew Licata would be “inheriting some of the most intelligent people” that he’ll ever see. He added that he’s heard everybody thinks Licata will be “very good for the community.”
“I know leadership when I see it. You’ve got that IT factor,” Williams said. “I’m looking forward to working with you and so is everyone else.”
Broward Circuit Judge Elijah H. Williams, center, gives closing remarks during the swearing in of Peter B. Licata, right, as the superintendent of Broward County Public Schools at the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center’s boardroom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Florida State Sen. Rosalynd Osgood, who previously represented District 5 on the Broward School Board; former Broward School Board member Kevin Tynan, whom Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed last year; Florida House Rep. Patricia Williams, the Democrat who represents Pompano Beach, Oakland Park and other parts of Broward County, Miramar City Commissioner Maxwell Chambers and others attended the ceremony.
Jimena Tavel covers higher education for the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald. She’s a bilingual reporter with triple nationality: Honduran, Cuban and Costa Rican. Born and raised in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, she moved to Florida at age 17. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Florida in 2018, and joined the Herald soon after.
