The former Springfield Finance Control Board chose to hire a new superintendent in 2008, selecting current superintendent Alan Ingram.
Joseph P. BurkeSPRINGFIELD – Former superintendent of schools Joseph P. Burke has been selected as superintendent of the Lee County Public Schools in Florida.
The Lee County School Board selected Burke from among four finalists on Tuesday, according to a press release from the county school system.
Burke, 60, had served as superintendent in Springfield for seven years, ending June 30, 2008, and previously worked for 27 years in the Miami Dade County School District.
Burke is listed as living in Key West, and has been serving as school superintendent in Monroe County, Fla.
Burke was sometimes criticized in Springfield for job hunting during his tenure.
The former Springfield Finance Control Board decided to advertise for a new superintendent in 2008, as Burke’s final, one-year contract was scheduled to expire. The School Committee was contesting the control board’s action when Burke announced he would not fight to keep the Springfield job which then paid $180,000 a year.
Burke was replaced by current Superintendent of Schools Alan J. Ingram.
The Lee County School Board voted 4-1 to offer Burke the superintendent position there.
“Each of the four finalists brought quality to the table, and the decision was difficult for all of us,” said Thomas Scott, School Board Chairman. “In the end, Dr. Burke’s qualifications were at a higher level than the others, and that is what we were looking for– someone who can hit the ground running and continue moving our District forward.”
The school system has more than 81,000 students in the Cape Coral-Fort Meyers area.