Chair Ziegler ‘disappointed’ in Sarasota School Board’s tight vote against Vermilion Education contract

SARASOTA, Fla. (FLV) – Sarasota County School Board Chair Bridget Ziegler is “disappointed” in Tuesday evening’s board meeting after board members voted 3-2 against a contract with Vermilion Education.

The contract with firm Vermilion Education included a review of the district’s textbooks, lesson plans, library books, guidance counseling policies, student surveys, and more.

Board members Tom Edwards, Tim Enos and Robyn Marinelli voted against the contract, while Karen Rose and Ziegler voted in favor of the contract.

The board flipped from a 3-2 liberal majority to a 4-1 conservative majority in the August 2022 election.

Vermilion Education helps school boards “ensure the best education possible for their students,” according to their website.

Their statement of principles said students “should not be used by political parties or ideologies,” and “transparency fosters trust and respect among teachers, parents, and the community.”

Ziegler proposed the contract initially and spoke with Florida’s Voice after the vote.

“I’m disappointed. I know that that was going to play a really helpful role to set us up for success,” Ziegler told Florida’s Voice.

“Ultimately, there’s been clearly substantial evidence across the state of Florida and the country, that there are things inside our K-12 education system that are not appropriate. We have legislation that’s responded to it, but as locally elected school board members, it’s our job to make sure it’s not there,” Ziegler said.

Dozens of protestors gathered outside the meeting and voiced opposition to the contract during public comment, according to reports.

Opponents of the contract reportedly said Vermilion would bring a “Christian nationalist” form of education into public schools.

Support Our Schools, a public education non-profit, released a statement Wednesday following the vote.

“Support Our Schools is pleased that the majority of the Sarasota County School Board voted against the approval of the contract for consulting services with Vermilion Education LLC,” the statement said.

“While we are happy with the result of the vote, we expect Rose and Ziegler will try to flip Board member Robyn Marinelli’s vote by changing the scope of the proposed contract,” the statement continued.

Ziegler believes a local group of “extreme radical people” coordinated with other organizations intended to “put a pressure campaign on.”

“I understand that it can feel overwhelming when you’re in the chambers, but I can promise you – that was the woke mob – and it was an organized effort,” Ziegler said.

“It’s those moments that you have to remember that you are the voice for the people who that you swore to be,” she said.

Ziegler said Tuesday’s meeting was the opportunity to “really move our districts in that direction” and said it’s “unfortunate to see that not be successful.”

“Every comment last night was truly about, ‘anti-Christian this’ and ‘anti-DeSantis’ that,” Ziegler said.

“Our board is focused, myself and I know Karen Rose, and my hope was – the other board members – and I do believe that they care – but, to move our district forward and get the politics out, so we can zero in on our academics, and improve our reading scores, and focus on our exceptional student education,” she said.

Ziegler said she will continue to fight to “ensure that our schools are focused on all of our families and all of our children with academics in mind and not social agendas, religious ideologies or political agendas.”