Sarasota LWV publishes "Report Card" on the county's School Board

 

Sarasota County School Board Report Card 

The League of Women Voters of Sarasota has established an Observer Corps to monitor the Sarasota County School Board meetings. The goal of the Observer Corps is to objectively evaluate meetings for ethical, legal and professional conduct on the part of the board and chairperson with respect to the public comment session and the meeting agenda. This evaluation will be shared with the Board and the public following each  meeting. 

Meeting ate:  

A = Consistently B= Frequently C= Occasionally D= Rarely F= Not at All  

Board follows and advances a written agenda.	A
Board limits citizens’ comments only to opinions on topics that are in the Board’s purview.  Some comments are not in the Board’s purview. Asking Ms. Ziegler to stay on, for  example, is not while asking the Board to write to the governor for her removal is.  Biblical references and prayer are not. Stopping a “woke” agenda is not. A perceived  agenda by some board members to reduce or eliminate public education is not, but it  does fall within the board’s purview to address any action or decision that speakers  link directly to these concerns.	C
Board Chair does not allow speakers to personally attack board members or use abusive language.  The chair does not consistently stop attacks on board members. Many commentators  continue to attack Ms. Ziegler and the comment, “Ask the groomer” was a personal  attack on Mr. Edwards. Ms. Marinelli came under fire for comments at the previous  meeting. Some comments walk a fine line between attack and constructive  information. We realize it is enormously difficult to walk that fine line but would hope  that the chair would be vigilant in this matter.	C
Board Chair treats speakers equitably.  The chair has a noticeably different response to speakers she appears to agree with  versus those she does not. Some are greeted with a welcome; others not. The tone  of voice in her “thank you” varies depending on the speaker. Some commenters get  more attention and eye contact by board members than others. Audience applause is   handled differently…ignoring some and closing down the meeting for another.	C-

Board adheres to Robert’s Rules of Order.  As was said after the last meeting, according to Roberts Rules of Order personal  attacks, name calling (groomer), and abusive language is not to be tolerated.	B
The Board Chair runs an orderly meeting.	C+
Board delegates operational and educational decisions to the  professional staf.  There were several opportunities during the meeting when citizen’s comments could  have been referred to administrative staff for follow-up. Teacher and students  offered specific concerns which lent themselves to further follow-up and the board  chair did not make those referrals. At previous meetings, more issues were referred  to administration.	B
Board gives evidence of being responsive to public comment. At each meeting, citizens are telling the board that they are not hearing the citizens’  concerns. Speakers continue to bring up issues that are dismissed as being  inaccurate. More often, however, they are ignored completely during the time when  board members have their turn to respond to citizens’ comments.	D+

Additional Comments: 

Two new categories were added to this Report Card this time -- one regarding the equal treatment of citizens who comment and another regarding the board’s response to public comment. We realize how difficult the work of  a school board member is and appreciate how seriously members take on the responsibility of helping educate  every child every day. We hope you will give each citizen equal attention and courtesy, listen to their concerns and suggestions, refer issues to school administration when necessary, and respond thoughtfully to the  speakers when you are able.  

We would ask board members to confine their comments to the work of the board. We feel that the comments  of one board member regarding Equality Florida and changing the narrative had nothing to do with the work at  hand. Comments such as these make us question whether any attempt is being made to project an image as a  thoughtful, non-political board. 

There was huge public outcry related to the approval of a charter school, and many speakers spoke of their  serious concerns. The public learned one board member had requested a special workshop to take a careful  look at the concerns but that request was denied by the board chair. This leads to mistrust and skepticism of  board motives. 

Recommendations: 

The board might consider whether meetings would be more productive if public comment before the business  meeting was restricted to agenda items only. After the business meeting, general comments could be heard.  When the board is aware that a certain agenda item is controversial or generating significant public interest,  time should be allotted to allow more public input. 

Submitted by: Sarasota League of Women Voters School Board Observer Corps.

What's with the Sarasota School Board ideologues? Schurr

 WHY DO KAREN ROSE AND BRIDGET ZIEGLER WANT TO GET RID OF SUPERINTENDENT BRENNAN ASPLEN?

There are so many reasons, not least that they want a superintendent who is a lapdog. Remember that there was a time lapse of only three weeks between Asplen’s evaluation by the Board at the November 1 school board meeting and Rose’s move to fire him at the November 22 board meeting. It is interesting that the board’s evaluations do not support the actions of Rose, Ziegler and the two new board members.

At the November 1 meeting, Dr. Asplen’s written evaluations (link to the evaluations copied below) were provided to the public as an attachment to the agenda and each board member gave his or her comments to their respective evaluations. Brown, Edwards and Goodwin rated Asplen as Highly Effective, Rose gave him an Effective rating, and Ziegler gave a Needs Improvement rating (which she verbally negated by saying she saw it not as negative, but as an “opportunity” see 1:15:47 of the November 1 Board meeting located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEaWL4alfMc). There was no discussion of terminating his contract for cause or otherwise at that meeting.

It was most interesting that although Ziegler gave a Needs Improvement rating overall, this was not supported by her individual ratings: 2 Highly Effective, 4 Effective and 4 Needs Improvement. Basic math tells us that does not support a Needs Improvement rating. Denise Cantalupo provided a summary of all five evaluations, which resulted in a Highly Effective rating overall. And Rose’s overall rating was Effective, yet she voted against confirmation of the overall rating and was outvoted 4-1. Is this a case of, if you don’t like the overall results, you just ignore them and vote against them? And hold a grudge until you can fire him or drive him out, for no cause? Or is this a case of two vindictive board members with a plan, who do not like being challenged with facts against their opinions in the evaluation system? It is clearly a situation where the action is not supported by the facts.

After each board member gave their comments, Dr. Asplen was afforded an opportunity to speak. Asplen graciously thanked each of the board members for their evaluations and then respectfully rebutted in detail, some of those areas where certain board members had noted areas for improvement. Remember, this was a public evaluation, where everyone had an opportunity to present their opinions, even the person being evaluated. Unfortunately, it appears that retaliation is the result of such transparency. Watch the YouTube video of Asplen’s comments starting at 1:31:44.

Another very telling moment can be seen at 1:43:07. Ziegler had accused Asplen of playing politics and being divisive in her evaluation, because of a letter to the editor of the Sarasota Herald Tribune that he wrote a year and a half ago in June 2021 (link to the letter attached below). As a result of one of Ziegler’s countless visits to Fox News and other media outlets to fan the flames of the false narrative that CRT is taught in our schools, Asplen was inundated by calls and emails from concerned parents and residents. To reassure the public that CRT is not taught, never has been taught in our schools nor will it ever be taught in our schools, Asplen wrote a letter to the editor. Apparently, Ziegler finds it “divisive” when the superintendent seeks to reassure the public and the truth is told. Particularly when it goes against her false and divisive narrative.

I have been a very vocal opponent of Dr. Asplen and have often disagreed with his decisions, even going so far as threatening to sue him and the board for removing books from the shelves without having gone through the board mandated policy for media center challenges. But I have never doubted that he was more than competent to do his job and more importantly, that he had the best interests of our children at heart and that he was dedicated to public education. Unfortunately, I do not think Rose and Ziegler share those qualities.

We know why Rose and Ziegler (and possibly the new Board members?) are so keen to terminate Asplen’s contract. They want a lapdog, not a superintendent whose first allegiance is to the students and stakeholders in this district. Perhaps it is time to cut out the politics, Ms. Ziegler and Ms. Rose, and concentrate on closing the achievement gap, bringing up reading scores and last, but certainly not least, it is past time to support our teachers, rather than attacking them.

Lisa Gialdini Schurr

Parent and CEO Support Our Schools

=========

Link to the written evaluations given by the five board

Link to November 1, 2022, Board Meeting

Asplen letter to the editor

Sarasota now has two fake boards

A community's mental health isn't something you kick down the road - unless you're Sarasota County's Board of Commissioners. Local experts volunteered 526 hours to review and recommend the most valuable mental health services for our citizens -- only to watch Moran, Maio, Ziegler, Cutsinger and Detert punt -- incoherently. Carrie Seidman.

The same five Commissioners agreed there's no space west of I-75 left for affordable housing, then granted Pat Neal's request to dodge a formal commitment to build affordable housing east of it. Sarasota's moneybags developer apparently can't afford affordable housing -- details in The Sarasota News Leader.

This Tuesday, Nov. 29, the newly elected Sarasota School Board will meet to consider terminating the Superintendent - no reason given. Brennan Asplen has high marks for his performance. Karen Rose made the motion. "Asked about the motion following Tuesday's meeting, Rose continued walking past a Herald-Tribune reporter and declined to comment." 

To email all School Board members: schoolboardmembers@sarasotacountyschools.net

​

It takes a developer to erase a Village

Kevin Sullivan, Night in Eastern Manatee County

Sarasota has become a national poster child for those who say the government can’t be trusted with guiding a response to a pandemic - in schools or in hospitals.

Wherever we turn, we find a politically motivated war on public entities. Vituperative School Board meetings have made national news. Now, according to the Washington Post, Sarasota Memorial Hospital faces a concerted effort to replace long-term Hospital Board members with challengers who think they can be trusted to do away with governmental oversight of public health.

It’s worth asking why this county appears so receptive to private property rights. In 1975, forward-looking Sarasota was the first Florida county to promulgate a comprehensive land use plan, putting quality of life above private profit. This year our County Commission gave mega-developers Rex Jensen and Pat Neal carte blanche to write a brand-new section of the Comp Plan. 

Pat Neal

Mr. Neal now seeks the breathtaking power to put 5,000 homes in East Sarasota, where existing zoning allows for 717 homes. This would end the rural life of Old Miakka, yet it's framed not as the taking of a 172-year-old community, but rather as a "right" inherent to a developer's private ownership. When you absolutize private property, it can rather quickly get medieval. Do we wish to give Mr. Neal such a confiscatory Droit de seigneur over the people of Old Miakka?

The pressure to privatize public health, education and planning radically undermines shared norms, values and protected rights, replacing them with a world shaped by loud voices and fat wallets.

We must not cede the public sphere to private interests. Our imperfect democratic institutions deserve protection from those who'd profit from their extinction. Our public schools, hospital, and comprehensive planning cannot be for sale.

* * * * * *

Pat Neal's Comp Plan Amendment comes before the Planning Commission on Thursday, August 4. The meeting begins at 5 pm at the Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.- see Item #7.

Old Miakka has organized, lawyered up, and will be at the meeting. More here: https://www.sarasotacountry.net/

And more background here and here.

Recent election news: Sarasota County

Some late breaking news stories and commentary ahead of the August Primaries (tomorrow):

Carlos Beruff says he's in Senate race to win
     More about Beruff

Charter Review Board Races
     More about the Charter Review Board

Sarasota School Board for Sale
     Connecting Cash - Cathy Antunes
     More about the Sarasota School Board

Eric Robinson: Beyond Dark Money
     (Robinson is Carlos Beruff's campaign manager)
     More about Eric Robinson

Robinson behind books, not message

More about Developer/Builder Pat Neal

Sarasota's Election Day is in August, not November - here's why

Dark Money - gets darker

The Detail:

When it comes to dark PAC money in Sarasota/Manatee, there are relatively few managers. Eric Robinson is by far the leader in managing local dark money. With 30-40 political committees under his management, Mr. Robinson manages millions in political committee donations. As he has explained in the local press, donors to political committees “don’t want to be identified”

By the way, remember that $50,000 donated by Robinson Hanks Accounting to Manatee Against Taxation on June 5, 2013?

On July 3, 2013, Manatee Against Taxation turned around and paid Robinson Hanks $50,000 for accounting services. It’s interesting that a political committee required accounting services valued at 43% of its total 115K in assets, and remarkable when a company can make a 50K political committee donation and then one month later charge the same political committee an exorbitant 50K accounting fee, recouping its original donation. Even more remarkable how the PACs treasurer, chair and registered agent are one and the same – Mr. Robinson. Now Sarasota has Mr. Robinson’s accounting prowess at the helm on the Sarasota School Board.

Eric "Dark Money" Robinson

Complete story at The Detail.

PAC money and Sarasota's schoolchildren

Cathy Antunes:

School Board candidate Eric Robinson works for over 40 political committees. A review of their financials raises a number of issues.

Follow the Money! 

This bit of wisdom tells us to take a close look at how money moves through our political system. Understand the money flow and who is involved and you gain clarity around who influences elections and what they may expect to gain from doing so. Simple enough. But these days, following the money is a different animal. Political committees have changed the campaign funding landscape as donations are swapped from political action committee to another. Political committees are exempt from limits on donations, and can stuff voter mailboxes with a barrage of political ads late in local elections. Candidates who don’t attract lush PAC funding are unable to respond to the onslaught. This dynamic is a huge factor in City and County elections. School Board candidate Eric Robinson works for over 40 political committees. A review of their financials raises a number of issues.  Read more . . .

Political Action Committees:

More about PACs and SuperPACs:

Wikipedia
Open Secrets 
Federal Election Commission

Eric Robinson

Runs for School Board

Sarasota School Board Background