Asplen says he will resign as Sarasota Schools leader

The Sarasota County School Board plans its Tuesday meeting to consider the superintendent's contract.

By Eric Garwood
| 7:40 p.m. November 28, 2022

Brennan Asplen came to Sarasota County Schools in 2020.

Sarasota
Schools

Superintendent Brennan Asplen on Monday night said he has accepted that his tenure with Sarasota County Schools is at an end and that he seeks “not to be a distraction” to the work of the district’s teachers, administrators, employees and families.

“I desire for our community to be at peace,’’ he wrote in a statement sent to school stakeholders, and later, the news media.

Asplen’s statement precedes by about 24 hours a special meeting of the Sarasota County School Board on Tuesday, called for last week to consider his contract. The 4-1 vote in favor of the Tuesday special meeting came just minutes after two new school board members were sworn in.

Though Karen Rose was already on the board, her motion to consider the employment of Asplen was supported by newly elected members Tim Enos, who seconded Rose's motion, and Robyn Marinelli, along with newly sworn-in chair Bridget Ziegler.

Tom Edwards was the only school board member to reject the call for Tuesday’s meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the School District’s administration complex.

“I will work respectfully and constructively with the board to achieve an acceptable resolution to my employment separation,’’ Asplen wrote. “I ask that all attending the meeting do so with the same spirit in mind.”

Asplen, highly rated by a majority of the previous board in his annual evaluation weeks ago and in 2021, sat silently and sipped water on the dais at Venice High throughout the discussion on Nov. 22 and scheduling of the meeting that could lead to his firing. Edwards was one of the three who gave Asplen the highly effective rating. The other two, Shirley Brown and Jane Goodwin, are no longer on the board.

Enos, Marinelli and Ziegler won contentious elections in August, defeating a trio of Democratic-Party supported candidates. Although non-partisan, Ziegler, Enos and Marinelli drew backing of not only the local Republican Party but also that of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who campaigned and supported like-minded school board candidates statewide.

Asplen started with the school district in 2020, coming to Sarasota from a post as a deputy superintendent with the St. Johns County School District. He replaced interim Superintendent Mitsi Corcoran, who took over for Todd Bowden, who was fired in 2019 over his handling of a sexual harassment case.

Superintendent Brennan Asplen's statement

As has been reported in the media, I was contacted about working out a mutually agreeable separation from the School District shortly after last Tuesday's board meeting at which the motion to terminate my contract was made. Though my wife and I were highly disappointed and plummeted into emotional turmoil by last Tuesday's 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. There is a board meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at which the School Board will discuss its motion to terminate. I will work respectfully and constructively with the board to achieve an acceptable resolution to my employment separation. I ask that all attending the meeting do so with the same spirit in mind.

I have the utmost sincere confidence in the many talented and dedicated people who comprise our school district family. On the day I was sworn to your service, I entered Sarasota County Schools with the sole intention to work beyond the division and distrust that existed here and to restore a collaborative culture that would provide the best possible climate so that each student can reach his or her highest potential. My wife and I uprooted and invested our life here, both professionally and personally, with full intention to be part of this community into retirement. I wholeheartedly embraced SCS with high expectation and full commitment to its bright future, united to work as one for the success of all. I saw a district that was poised for growth and soaring achievement. I believe our Strategic Plan has focused us on an even stronger trajectory for the success of our students, despite the outside noise that often overshadows the vision. Division and hostility have never been part of my leadership fiber. This is why I have always held that our school district could collectively rise above the noise, and "do the work”. I still believe this. If I have one request, please do better by your next Superintendent; allow that individual to freely be the instructional leader focused on student achievement, not dragged into the quagmire of the political arena. With all due respect, please do not allow that to be Sarasota’s legacy.

In closing, in the aftermath of last Tuesday's board meeting, I am completely humbled by the abundant outpouring of support from our past and present Sarasota County Schools teachers, administrators and support staff, our SC/TA Union, our business and community leaders, our committed foundations, the Herald Tribune and the good citizens of Sarasota. I wish Sarasota County Schools only the brightest future and healing. Please know that I leave you with the sincerest assurance that I have labored to faithfully serve our students, community, and SCS family of employees.

—Dr. Brennan W. Asplen, III