Sarasota School Board convenes following contentious election, public urges student focus

Sarasota County’s School Board Election Results

Sarasota County’s School Board convened Wednesday on the heels of a contentious election that saw the board’s chairwoman lose her seat.

Karen Rose, who was notably absent from the meeting, lost her District 2 seat to Liz Barker in a nonpartisan primary race decided by only two percentage points. The voters’ decision to remove Rose and reelect Tom Edwards seemed to indicate a public pushback against the direction of the conservative-leaning board majority over the past two years.

In the 2022 election, the School Board flipped to a 4-1 conservative majority behind a Bridget Ziegler, Robyn Marinelli and Tim Enos ticket. On Tuesday, the electorate ousted the board’s chairwoman and gave four more years to Edwards, a registered Democrat self-described as “woke” who was targeted by Gov. Ron DeSantis as someone he wanted off the School Board.

Superintendent Congratulates Winners

During his report, Superintendent Terry Connor congratulated Barker and Edwards on their victories, which was met with a standing ovation from several audience members. Enos, who presided over the meeting in Rose’s absence, also congratulated the winners and said he looked forward to working with them.

Following the board’s business section, Ziegler extended her congratulations to Edwards and Barker. She said she remains committed to working with every board member, even if they disagree.

Public Comments at Sarasota School Board Meeting

Local activists, whom Rose had previously pointed to as the reason board meetings had become distractions, took the public comment time as a victory lap.

“So much has already been said regarding (Rose’s) tenure on the School Board. So I only have two words left: Good riddance,” said Cindy Effron.

Tamara Solum, a local activist and mother of Booker High School graduates, said Barker’s and Edwards’ election victories could be attributed to people of all political parties and ways of thinking.

“We’re done with the hate and the rhetoric and the lies,” she said.

Paulina Testerman, another local activist, echoed Solum’s sentiment. She criticized the “hate-filled” rhetoric from the School Board election.

Several speakers turned their attention to Ziegler, asking why she remained on the board. In December, the board approved a resolution asking for Ziegler’s resignation as her husband Christian was investigated for an alleged rape. The state attorney declined to charge Christian Ziegler, and Bridget was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Rhana Bizini, who attends every School Board meeting, said she wants to see “boring” board meetings again, and urged the panel to work together for the betterment of students.

“The people have spoken,” Bizini said. “We have a choice. We can continue to be divisive to the detriment of the whole purpose of a school board, or we can work together to fulfill our mandate to address the needs of every student every day.”

Lisa Schurr, a co-founder of the activist group Support Our Schools, extended an invitation to Marinelli and Enos to work with their group.

She invoked the name of the former superintendent Brennan Asplen and his parting words for Sarasota’s School Board after he was forced out, warning the board against political distractions.

“Let’s work together. Let’s get the politics out — Brennan Aspen nailed that one,” Schurr said. “We’ve got to get the politics out of the school board. Let’s concentrate on the education of our children.”

School Board Approves Policy for High School Athletes to Profit

The board gave final approval for a new Name, Image and Likeness policy, outlining how Sarasota County’s student-athletes can profit from their own image through endorsements.

“I think we’re one of the leading school districts right now with a policy in place, and we will continue to monitor this to see how it is implemented across our district and make adjustments as necessary,” Connor said.

The NIL policy follows a final approval of the policy from the Florida High School Athletic Association board. Athletes profiting off their likeness dates back to a Supreme Court decision ruling that the National Collegiate Athletic Association could not restrict amateur athletes from profiting off themselves.

In the last several years, college athletes have begun getting millions of dollars in endorsements. In February of 2023, DeSantis signed a bill paving the way for Florida student-athletes to earn endorsements.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Identified in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 4: Quality Education

The article discusses the Sarasota County School Board and the election results that led to a change in the board’s composition. While the article does not directly address specific education-related issues, the School Board’s role is crucial in ensuring quality education for students in the county. SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all, and the functioning and decisions of the School Board directly impact the education system in Sarasota County.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article mentions the contentious nature of the election and the public pushback against the conservative-leaning board majority. This highlights the importance of having effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels, as targeted by SDG 16. The election results and the subsequent changes in the School Board’s composition reflect the democratic process and the exercise of people’s voices in shaping the direction of the institution.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

While not explicitly mentioned in the article, SDG 17 emphasizes the importance of partnerships and collaboration to achieve sustainable development goals. The functioning of the School Board involves collaboration between board members, educators, students, parents, and other stakeholders to ensure quality education. The article indirectly highlights the need for effective partnerships and cooperation to address the needs of every student and improve the education system in Sarasota County.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes

The article does not provide specific information about the progress or challenges related to this target. However, the functioning of the School Board and the decisions made by its members play a crucial role in ensuring that all students in Sarasota County have access to quality education and achieve relevant learning outcomes.

Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels

The article indirectly highlights the importance of this target by discussing the election results and the public pushback against the conservative-leaning board majority. The changes in the School Board’s composition reflect the democratic process and the need for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions to address the needs of the community and ensure the proper functioning of the education system.

Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources

While not directly mentioned in the article, this target emphasizes the importance of partnerships and collaboration to achieve sustainable development goals. The functioning of the School Board involves collaboration between various stakeholders, including board members, educators, students, parents, and the community. Effective partnerships and cooperation are essential to address the needs of every student and improve the education system in Sarasota County.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention or imply any specific indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. It primarily focuses on the election results and the changes in the School Board’s composition, rather than providing detailed information about education outcomes or institutional performance.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: heraldtribune.com