Sarasota Schools Superintendent’s Resignation Talks To Begin: Report

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — The Sarasota County School Board authorized resignation negotiations with Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen in a 4-1 vote at Tuesday’s board meeting, according to reports.

The board’s new conservative majority — Karen Rose, recently reelected Bridget Ziegler, and newcomers Tim Enos and Robyn Marinelli — voted to give the superintendent the opportunity to resign and to begin severance negotiations, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Tom Edwards was the sole vote against parting ways with Asplen.

The board indicated last week that it was moving to terminate the superintendent’s contract.

He has until the end of the week to decide whether he will participate in negotiations, Fox 13 reported. If Asplen decides not to resign, the board will vote on his termination at its next meeting.

The superintendent accused the new board of being politically motivated.

"We've got to get the politics out of the school system, and I'm telling you right now whether I'm here or not I've said this before, which I probably won't be anymore, but if I'm not here and someone else comes in you have to get the politics out of this school district," he said.

Asplen has received mostly positive evaluations from the school board during his two years in the position. Last year, Edwards and then-board members Shirley Brown and Jane Goodwin gave him “highly effective” ratings, while Rose gave him an “effective” rating, according to Sarasota Magazine. Only Ziegler gave him a rating of “needs improvement” and the board awarded him a raise in June.

In a statement issued ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, the superintendent said he has “accepted” that he will likely being leaving the district.

“As has been reported in the media, I was contacted about working out a mutually agreeable separation from the School District shortly after (the previous) board meeting at which the motion to terminate my contract was made,” he wrote. “Though my wife and I were highly disappointed and plummeted into emotional turmoil by (the) 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.”

A number of parents, teachers and students spoke out in favor of Asplen during Tuesday’s five-hour meeting, WFLA reported.

“I’m not Christian but this makes me think of the Last Supper,” one supporter said. “Except instead of one Judas, there were four and while it’s not Passover or Easter, it was right before Thanksgiving. How deplorable.”