Manatee School Board meeting to focus on superintendent’s resignation or termination

School board members selected Dr. Jason Wysong May of 2023. He had previously been a Deputy Superintendent with Seminole County Public Schools since 2021.

A source within the district said the special meeting will either be about the resignation or termination of the superintendent. He did not go into further details.

“When public education is done really well, it’s an economic driver, and it’s a civic driver for community success,” said Wysong in July 2023, when he was sworn in as superintendent.

Less than two years later, the school board called a special meeting. It was posted on the calendar on Friday, May 16.

The agenda shows the “Purpose: conduct business relating to educational issues.” It was initiated by School Board Chair Chad Choate.

When 8 On Your Side spoke with Choate, he wrote, “It is a discussion on his contract. Where that goes will depend on the board discussion.”

Vice Chair Cindy Spray told me she had no comment. She suggested for those curious to attend the meeting or watch it via Zoom on Tuesday at 9 a.m.

“Which is not much notice and a difficult time for parents and the community who work most people to attend,” said Robin Taub Williams, president of Democratic Public Education Caucus of Manasota.

Williams said concerned parents alerted her of the special meeting over the weekend.

“There’s a lack of transparency and a lack of time, and from what I’ve heard from good sources that the intention is to terminate the superintendent, that’s not explicitly stated on the agenda item,” she said.

The Manatee County School District told 8 On Your Side anything before the meeting would be deemed as speculation and would not comment further.

8 On Your Side questioned School Board Member Heather Felton about the special meeting. She cited Sunshine Laws preventing her from going into detail outside of school board chambers.

“In terms of academic metrics, things have been improving under [Wysong’s] leadership,” said Williams.

Data from the Florida Department of Education shows the Manatee District Graduation Rate in 2023 was 82.3% and the following year that rate rose to 85.7%.

In response to the FDOE school grades released Superintendent Wysong released this statement on July 25, 2024:

I am pleased with the academic progress made by Manatee County students and schools during the 2023-24 school year, as measured by results from the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) progress monitoring system initiated by the state in 2022. With support and inspiration from talented teachers, staff, and administrators, students across the district demonstrated significant growth in reading and mathematics. This year, 20 SDMC schools earned an A grade. Additionally, fifteen schools earned a higher grade in 2024 than either 2022 or 2023.  We are especially proud to celebrate Abel Elementary (improved to A; first A since 2011), Ballard Elementary (improved from D to B; first B since 2011), Tillman Elementary (first A grade in school history), and Parrish Community High School (first A grade in school history). Manatee earned a district grade of B, finishing just two percentage points away from an A. We look forward to building on this momentum as we enter the 2024-25 school year!

Williams questioned if the special meeting boils down to budget, but no matter what unfolds she wants transparency for parents and the community.

“I just think the public needs to have time to find out what the facts are here, and there shouldn’t be this rush,” Williams said.

The district source said a compensation package will need to be decided following the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting. Once that’s finalized, he said the school board will either choose an interim superintendent or appoint one.

Wysong replaced former Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, who retired in June 2023 after 34 years in public education in Florida.