Monday, November 28, 2022

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

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Saturday, November 26, 2022

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