SARASOTA COUNTY – Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Brennan Asplen is close to an agreement to resign his position.
According to the Herald Tribune, Brennan Asplen, superintendent for Sarasota County Schools since August 2020, released a statement Monday evening in which he said he has “accepted the fact that (he) will soon be separated by the School Board” and a collaborative relationship “does not appear to be attainable.”
In his statement, Asplen said he plans to work constructively with the board to finalize his departure. The statement comes as Asplen faces a special meeting of the School Board on Tuesday at 5 p.m., where the board could vote to fire him. Separation negotiations between the board’s legal counsel and Asplen’s attorney started last Wednesday, the day after the board voted to schedule the meeting.
The terms of separation remained fluid as of Monday night. Under his contract, the superintendent could be entitled to upwards of $90,000 for termination without cause.
In the statement, Asplen added, “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.”
Asplen said he was humbled by the outpouring of support he received from parents, teachers and district staff.
“I wish Sarasota County Schools only the brightest future and healing,” he said. “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.”
The superintendent said he had confidence in the district’s staff and teachers, and that the district’s Strategic Plan would continue to strengthen outcomes for students “despite the outside noise.”
Asplen said he wants the district to do better by it’s next superintendent and keep them out of the “quagmire of the political arena.”