Our children should not be used as political pawns.

Schools are for learning. They are not a place where political views should be imposed.

Karen Rose was wrong to announce the vote to fire Dr. Asplen without any discussion. Florida Sunshine Law REQUIRES public discussion before any decision. So that was illegal. Then the 2 new members were elected under false pretenses. They never discussed their intent to vote to fire the Superintendent. I blame that Bridget lady and the racist proud boys for entire hateful plan.

The appalling conduct of the 4 school board members needs to have consquences. Dr. Asplen has proven himself to be an exemplary superintendent, and even the assessments of his stewardship of Sarasota schools support this We can therefore conclude that this effort to oust him is, and always has been, purely political. The 4 members responsoble for this charade need to resign. Now!

This is disgusting and she should be fired not him!!!

I am dismayed by the newly-elected Sarasota School Board members’ flagrant disregard for the clearly expressed wishes of a significant number of community members. The abrupt decision to fire a superintendent who has received exemplary performance ratings and has served though a period of unprecedented difficulties is unjustifiable, particularly since Ms. Rose and her associates have been unwilling or unable to offer any coherent reasons for this action. This termination must be reversed at once with profound apologies for the turmoil it has caused.

Thank you!

The teachers I know said Mr Asplund has done a great job. He visits classrooms on a weekly basis. Their decision doesn’t make sense. Should the new board members be investigated for breaking the Sunshine Law?

Karen Rose should be recalled by the citizens of Sarasota.

I agree with this 100 %. As an educator, I am so disappointed that the two former educators on the board would put politics above the interests of students.

The Sarasota school board has become a radical political organization with the intent of forcing extremes ideas in our community and in our schools. I left the republican party after 32 years here in Sarasota county as the far right radicals have taken over our community and state government.

The way Dr. Asplen has been treated is disgraceful. He has done an excellent job.

Terrible decision to terminate the superintendent in the middle of the school year for political reasons. This poor decision will cost students, teachers and taxpayers.

Actions speak louder than words. The new school board members have betrayed their campaign promises by immediately making their decisions political. I watched the entire recent school board meeting of Nov. 29th. Karen Rose's comments were ludricous in their claims; Tim Enos's comments present the vacuity we feared; and Bridget Zeigler spoke for minutes upon minutes and said absolutely nothing of substance. Total word salad. Their actions and sheer present on the board are a moral injury to this community. I support all efforts to protect public education and to purge politics from education.

Let's keep the School Board's focus on students and public education. Siphoning off attention by attempting to fire a competent superintendent who has won the support of just about everyone does quite the opposite.

That the motive for firing Dr. Asplen is not about his qualifications and performance is abundantly obvious. There are ulterior motives at work, and it is not about how to make and keep Sarasota public education excellent. We have elected Proud Boys and Moms For Liberty to our school board, and this is only the first move they will make in pursuit of their extreme right wing agenda.

The school board is pushing a far right agenda that is extremely dangerous while illegally (Sunshine Act) attempting to fire Dr Asplan. The entire board should be removed.

He needs to stay

Please stop bringing politics into the schools!

What example is this school board setting for children? Please model reason, thought, diplomacy, kindness, compassion, and strength of character by admitting a mistake and asking Brennan Asplen to stay on as a Superindent.

Listen to your community! What has happened is a disgrace to the district.