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Flipped Florida school boards dump their superintendents

A roundup of Florida education news from around the state.
 
Newly elected school board members across Florida are taking actions that demonstrate elections have consequences.
Newly elected school board members across Florida are taking actions that demonstrate elections have consequences. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Published Nov. 30, 2022|Updated Nov. 30, 2022

The big story: Since the election flipped the balance of power on several Florida school boards, eyes have turned to the boards that took immediate action to change direction.

Sarasota County, whose new chairperson has drawn national attention as a conservative activist, used its refashioned majority to express displeasure with the administration’s leadership. The board threatened to fire superintendent Brennan Asplen, who in turn offered to leave.

On Tuesday, the board met to discuss the superintendent’s fate.

The board voted 4-1 to begin negotiating Asplen’s departure, the Herald-Tribune reports. It faced some pushback from the community, with several residents complaining that politics had overtaken performance, WFLA reports. Asplen didn’t disagree with that assessment, WUSF reports.

Meanwhile, in Brevard County the superintendent ousted by the district’s new conservative majority board found support from a possibly unexpected source — a Moms for Liberty co-founder who previously served on the board, Florida Today reports. (Subscription required)

Read more about the superintendent ousters from Politico Florida.

More on school boards

A newly elected Hernando County School Board member campaigned against “CRT” in schools. He revisited his concerns during his first meeting after being sworn in, Suncoast News reports.

A Martin County School Board member’s Facebook comment about watching movies in class caused a stir in the community. She has now apologized, WPTV reports.

Brevard County residents have been limited to one minute when making comments to the School Board. The board’s new chairperson wants to extend that time to three minutes each, Space Coast Daily News reports.

A defeated Escambia County School Board member has submitted a complaint against the challenger who beat her. She alleged he used an improper address when filing to run for election, WEAR reports.

Other school news

Broward County students will spend more time in the classroom during second semester. The district is making up for time lost to hurricane closures, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

A Citrus County high school had aquaculture tanks sitting unused in a classroom for years. This year a teacher has put the tanks to use for raising redfish in an agriculture course, the Citrus County Chronicle reports. “It’s the coolest class here you can take,” sophomore Jesse Paul said.

A Clay County high school evacuated because of a foul odor. It turned out to be a septic leak, WJXT reports.

From the court docket ... Lawyers for a University of South Florida student urged the state Supreme Court to reject the school’s appeal of a lawsuit relating to fees charged during the pandemic, the News Service of Florida reports.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.

Before you go ... How about that U.S. team in the World Cup? On to the knockout round!

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