Manatee County School Board votes to terminate Dr. Jason Wysong
By Sophia Vitello and Brigham Harris
A motion made to remove Superintendent Dr. Jason Wysong from his position passed 3-2. This after hours of debate.
The motion was made during a special meeting Tuesday.
School Board Chair Chad Choate called for the meeting. He told ABC7 members of the board want to discuss the terms of Dr. Wysong’s contract, and they did not want to have the discussion during their regular meeting at 5:30 p.m.
He said he could provide no other information.
Wysong signed on for the superintendent position with a starting salary of $235,000 in July 2023. His contract is not supposed to be up until June 2026, and his annual evaluation is not up for public discussion until next month.
Parents spoke out against the move, citing a lack of cause that was publicly released.
“This is not an easy situation, I think he’s a smart individual,” Choate told those in attendance.
This meeting comes less than three weeks after the Board met to discuss grooming allegations involving a fifth grade teacher.
During that meeting, parents asked if the optics of the district were prioritized over student safety, and the vice chair of the board echoed similar concern.
Choate made a motion to terminate Dr. Wysong without cause. That would provide a full 20 weeks of severance pay and maximum benefits as opposed to resignation. These were terms suggested by the board and Wysong’s attorney.
Wysong would remain an employee for three more months as an amendment to his contract. He will no longer serve as superintendent, but rather as a transitional consultant during the search for a new superintendent.
Another motion was made and seconded that would have postponed the discussion on termination.
The vote proceeded as planned, however, despite the motion to postpone. That motion to postpone was struck down 3-2.
Wysong had a moment to address the board, saying he regretted if he did not meet the board’s expectations.
“We’ve dealt with a lot of unusual situations,” Wysong said of the 2024-2025 school year.
He pledged to continue work with board members so the district would see success “with or without me.”
Dr. Wysong appeared to become emotional and said “I’m not giving up on the students and staff of this district, but if you want me out of the way, I’m willing to do that.”
The board voted to terminate Dr. Wysong 3-2. Kevin Chapman has been named the interim superintendent in a motion voted 5-0.
Wysong, released a letter to staff. You can read it in its entirety below:
Dear Colleagues,
A few moments ago, our School Board voted to make a change in the Superintendent’s office. Although our journey together has been much shorter than I expected, I am departing SDMC with many wonderful memories of meeting students, attending events, and watching you do great work to support children in our beautiful community.
In just two years of working together, we also have much to celebrate:
Student academic outcomes were up in all 11 accountability categories in 2023-24, and preliminary results from 2024-25 indicate continued growth at most grade levels in reading and science, with more results still pending
Across all campuses, students are engaged in more deliberate writing, speaking, and listening exercises as a strategy to strengthen literacy instruction
The high school graduation rate for the Class of 2024 was up more than 4 percentage points, and even before summer graduation counts, the Class of 2025 will set an all-time high graduation rate for SDMC. If this initiative remains intact, SDMC may even reach a 90% graduation rate for 2026
Construction of new schools and renovation of existing facilities is on track, with more than $600 million in capital projects currently underway
School bus transportation efficiency improved this year, with more than 90% of morning routes running on-time most weeks
Our high schools are safer than ever with the successful implementation of universal daily security screening
At a time when many school districts are experiencing declining enrollment and unstable budgets, SDMC district-operated schools continue to grow and our general fund balance is stable
As the year winds down, I hope you will take the time to reflect on the work you do and the difference that you make in the lives of children. Regardless of the specific job responsibility assigned to you, showing up each day and giving your best makes each student’s experience a little better and creates the conditions necessary to prepare them for their futures. Your impact is limitless!
I am humbled by the many messages of support I have received from SDMC employees over the past three days. I am honored to have served as your superintendent, and I will be cheering you on from afar!
Fare Well!