Sarasota Superintendent Ousted as Conservatives Gain New Majorities

SARASOTA (FLV) – Dr. Brennan Asplen will step down as superintendent for Sarasota County Schools after DeSantis-endorsed school board members filed a motion to terminate his contract, making it the third instance of conservative school board majorities ousting leadership as new members take their seats following the election.

Reports say instead of voting to fire Asplen, the school board decided to vote to authorize negotiations for Asplen’s resignation with severance pay, which may happen in a few days.

Bridget Ziegler, Tim Enos, Robyn Marinelli and Karen Rose voted in favor to move forward with Asplen’s separation, and Tom Edwards voted against.

Ziegler, Marinelli, and Enos were previously endorsed by DeSantis and won their elections, giving the school board a conservative majority.

Asplen previously released the following statement ahead of the meeting:

As has been reported in the media, I was contacted about working out a mutually agreeable separation from the School District shortly after last Tuesday’s board meeting at which the motion to terminate my contract was made.  Though my wife and I were highly disappointed  and plummeted into emotional turmoil by last Tuesday’s motion, after much reflection over the Thanksgiving holiday, it is with a heavy heart that I have accepted the fact that I will soon be separated by the School Board, as a collaborative relationship does not appear to be attainable. To that end, I seek not to be a distraction from the passionately steadfast commitment of our SCS teachers, administrators, employees and the greater parent/student community. I want the Sarasota County School District to heal; I desire for our community to be at peace. There is a board meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at which the School Board will discuss its motion to terminate. I will work respectfully and constructively with the board to achieve an acceptable resolution to my employment separation. I ask that all attending the meeting do so with the same spirit in mind.

Dr. Brennan Asplen

“The community overwhelmingly spoke for change,” Sarasota school board chair Bridget Ziegler told Florida’s Voice.

“There were areas it appeared the superintendent had almost made it more difficult – that the communication started to suffer […] They were subtleties but it started to become more apparent certainly after my evaluation of him and his response to the public that was almost dismissive and not willing to try to look at the constructive criticism and feedback I gave him, but rather than to dismiss it,” said Ziegler.

Ziegler said board members can’t do their jobs if the superintendent isn’t forthcoming, transparent and honest with information: “These are some of the challenges that we’ve seen.”

“I’m committed to moving us forward in a positive direction. I know it’s going to take some time for healing and I respect that but I also recognize that we need to keep moving because our children and our communities and our families deserve nothing better than our focus to be resiliently focused on our academic excellence and that’s where my commitment remains,” said Ziegler.

The move comes after multiple other Florida school boards with conservative majorities ousted superintendents in the last month.

“I know that there have been similar circumstances across the state and county, I will tell you in each scenario, these are local decisions so I wouldn’t necessarily point to a particular trend,” Ziegler said.

Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Mark Mullins said he would step down after newly-elected school board members expressed their interest for a change in leadership during their first public meeting.

Mullins reportedly volunteered to step down before the members could vote him out.

Broward County Superintendent Vickie Cartwright was fired after a surprise motion during a school board meeting.

“I think what you saw was the board empowering the new board that’s coming. I think there is a sense from many parents and teachers, administrators for something different. I think you also heard a sense that community wants to see change swiftly from top down, and I think you heard that desire for real change,” said Torey Alston.