Sarasota County's adults must act like grown-ups during the new school year
It’s a new year for the estimated 49,000 students who are enrolled in the Sarasota County school district.
It’s like a fresh, new chalkboard!
It’s like a blank laptop screen!
So to provide a public service, I’ve drawn up some lesson plans for the long school year ahead.
Uh, no, they’re not for the kids in the Sarasota County district.
They’re for the adults – the supposed “grown-ups” – who will largely determine whether this school year is an enjoyable one for the kids in the Sarasota County district.
Let’s take it from the top:
Superintendent Terrence Connor
I must admit, superintendent, that three thoughts came to mind when the Sarasota County School Board voted to hire you to lead the district.
More: Hillsborough's Terrence Connor selected as new Sarasota School Board superintendent
The first? It was relief that the board didn't hire former Clay County Superintendent Charles Van Zant, who would have been a total, unmitigated disaster.
The second? It was to congratulate you on reaching a major milestone in a long educational career.
The third? Well, it was to feel sorry for you – I mean, after all, the Sarasota County district has been a magnet for endless controversy, unfavorable national attention and general silliness over the past year.
But, hey, you seem to be off to a good start – and your vow to be transparent is a welcome one.
Your lesson plan: Always remember the importance of managing up when it comes to your boss – the School Board – but never forget the importance of reaching out to the district's other stakeholders, too.
Oh, and good luck, bruh.
The School Board
Yes, I did mention above that this new school year is a blank slate.
So I won't rehash some of your past nonsense – from kicking out a respected superintendent (Brennan Asplen) in humiliating fashion to toying with the idea of giving a novice consulting company massive influence over district operations, from . . .
Oops, that’s right, that’s right! No rehashing! No rehashing!
And actually, School Board members, you have shown some encouraging signs that when you can get out of your own way, you can do some constructive things.
You made a credible choice in selecting Connor as superintendent. You approved the district budget in a responsible manner – albeit after the usual performative ranting about the dangers of “woke ideology.” And while you’ve hardly been a profile in courage in speaking out against Gov. Ron DeSantis’ dangerous war on books, you did show enough backbone to reject a parent’s request to totally remove an anti-racism book from school libraries in the district.
Your lesson plan: Embrace the fact that “boring but effective” doesn’t always have to be a backhanded compliment. It can also be a worthwhile goal, and it’s exactly what yours should be during this school year.
The unruly mob
You know who you are.
You’re the people who disrupt School Board meetings by hurling hateful, homophobic insults at School Board Member Tom Edwards, who is openly gay.
Or send offensive photos and harassing email messages to School Board Chair Bridget Ziegler deriding her as a “bimbo” who should be “toiling in the house to please your man.”
Or do any of the other countless contemptible things you do each day to spread discord across the school district.
Yes, that’s right. I’m talking about all of you.
Your lesson plan: OK, OK, I know we should never underestimate the indefatigability of ignorance but . . . could you just stop it? All of it? Enough, already.
Look, I realize the above lesson plans may seem highly ambitious – especially for all you unruly mob fools – but can you try to stick to them throughout the school year?
Because make no mistake about one thing: there are 49,000 reasons why you should.
Opinion Editor Roger Brown can be reached at roger.brown@heraldtribune.com. Follow him on X at RBrown_HTOpin.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County's 'grown-ups' must behave during new school year