Rumors were abuzz this weekend after the Manatee County School Board announced a special meeting would be held on Tuesday for a “general discussion” on the superintendent’s contract. There were all kinds of supposed reasons as to why, but word on the street was that Dr. Jason Wysong would be fired. On Tuesday, those rumors proved true, although the reasons why remained murky.
Wysong just finished his second year as superintendent, taking over a district mired in scandals and controversies for over a decade. The district has performed well in those two years, consistently progressing in most metrics. Last year, the district was up in all eleven accountability metrics tracked by the state, and graduation rates have risen in both academic years since he took over.
Veteran board member Charlie Kennedy gave a painfully drawn-out, meandering, and convoluted explanation of why he wanted to part ways with Wysong. The substance-to-words ratio was anemic, but from what I gathered, Kennedy sometimes took offense at Wysong's tone when they interacted. Kennedy, who’d left the board to return to teaching, before returning to the board in 2024, also alleged that Wysong "dozed off" twice during a meeting the two had while Kennedy was a candidate last summer. To be fair to Wysong, I nearly dozed off during Kennedy’s commentary on Tuesday.
There was also an allegation that something Wysong had told him in a meeting was contradicted by something he’d later said in a deposition, but no details could be given, and Wysong could not respond because it related to ongoing litigation. Kennedy also offered a vague description of an event involving one of his friends who worked in the district having an issue, and Wysong not handling it to his satisfaction. Board member Cindy Spray echoed Kennedy’s allegation regarding the deposition and said little else beyond that there was no one issue driving her decision. She said she had promised not to degrade Dr. Wysong in a public forum and would keep her word.
Board Chair Chad Choate said he would "not slander Wysong in any way," but he agreed with Kennedy that the superintendent's style was "just not a fit for me." Choate was the sole nay vote when Wysong was hired. Citing what he called a "lack of communication" and acknowledging the success the district has enjoyed under his leadership, Choate made it clear that he was ready to move on.
While it became apparent at that point that there were three votes in favor of sacking the superintendent, the meeting got much more interesting when the two board members who were opposed to Wysong’s termination spoke. Board Member Richard Tatem said that while he may have been frustrated with Wyong’s tone on occasion or lack of communication on some issues, his career as an Air Force officer required him to ask himself what role he had played in the problem.
Tatem answered that he did not feel like he had given regular and consistent feedback to the superintendent to the degree that he could justify firing a leader without cause when, in his words, morale is good, performance is good, and the superintendent has not done anything illegal, immoral, or unethical. Tatem implored his fellow board members to ask themselves the same question, explaining that he thought they owed it to Wysong to clearly communicate any dissatisfaction and allow him to make necessary style adjustments.
“What we need right now is not a divorce,” said Tatem. "We need counseling."
Tatem also reminded the board of the significant cost to taxpayers of compensating Wysong for a termination without cause, searching for and hiring a new superintendent, and the impact the disarray might have on both performance and morale within the district.
Board member Heather Felton passionately defended Wysong and agreed with Tatem’s analogy of counseling vs. a divorce. Felton noted that there is one more year on Wysong’s contract, and he is due for a performance review next month. This would only be his second after receiving a stellar one less than a year ago. Felton added that the overwhelming majority of communications she had received since these rumors began were in support of Wysong.
Felton said that she sometimes found Wysong “socially awkward,” and “the tone is not always there,” but that she has “absolute faith in the job he's doing.” Felton added that, for her, it came down to two questions: Is this in the best interest of the kids in this district? How is it going to help students?
Despite offering the only substantive explanations of their positions, Tatem and Felton’s words had zero effect on their fellow board members. Kennedy even started attacking the district’s gains as having been “massaged” and reiterated his dismay with Wysong having negotiated a higher salary than his predecessor, despite less experience, while adding that he thought the exit package he negotiated was egregious. Given that the man is being fired without cause after moving his family to Manatee County during a time when housing prices were grossly inflated, just two years into a three-year contract, when all indications are that he was doing a bang-up job, I'd say it is a good thing he did.
In recent years, Manatee County taxpayers, parents, and students have endured far too much scandal, drama, and inadequacy from the leaders of its public education system. Wysong had been an enormous improvement over his predecessors, and the culture he created within the district was exemplary. It seems as though he may have been fired because he rubbed a few people the wrong way, and their egos prevented them from learning to build a better relationship with a hardworking and successful leader. If this is so, it is a great disservice to our community and its public education system.
As the most experienced board member leading an effort that ended in a split vote, Kennedy now owns this decision. While they may find someone with whom he, Spray, and Choate get along better, the recent past has shown us just how likely it is that we will end up with someone worse.
It’s also worth noting that, in its past two superintendents, the school district had clear-cut reasons to get rid of them and much more support for their removal from teachers, parents, and taxpayers. But from a grad-rate inflation scandal to a software upgrade that ran tens of millions over its initial budget and caused massive disruptions during implementation, and the dubious takeover of a popular charter school, the public was always told it would be too disruptive to make such a change when things were going well otherwise.
If the price of two years of better results and no scandals was a few board members occasionally getting rubbed the wrong way, it seems a small price to pay. Believe me, the cost of what comes next could be much, much higher for the community at large.
Dennis "Mitch" Maley is an editor and columnist for The Bradenton Times and the host of our weekly podcast. With over two decades of experience as a journalist, he has covered Manatee County government since 2010. He is a graduate of Shippensburg University and later served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. Click here for his bio. Mitch is also the author of three novels and a short story collection available here.
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WTF
**** poor timing to say the least. A superintendent had made significant strides in improving the the quality of our education, higher morale within the school district employees and so much more. They let their personal frustration overrule what was best for the School District has a hole. The Public was soccer punched as well, allowing no public comment after the debate to better inform the citizens and taxpayers before they were allowed to make a public comment. The school district will be left in chaos and calamity just like it has been in the past… What were they thinking? I guess we’ll find out at the voter booth. Disappointing of the Board‘s decision is an understatement… For the record.
Wednesday, May 21 Report this
charliekennedy
Mitch, I’m not a good public speaker but I felt the public was owed a full and complete explanation for the reason for my vote. Taking 30 minutes to share that complete view seemed appropriate. I do apologize to everyone involved for my second set of remarks later in the meeting. They were unnecessary and inappropriate.
I stand by my belief that our school district will emerge from this even better - with a leader who supports professionals to do their jobs without micromanagement AND an ability to foster good relationships with their board members and community leaders.
If I’m proven wrong by this time next year, I’ll resign my seat in a way that allows for an election to replace me in 2026.
Wednesday, May 21 Report this
kat.houston
I hope people read this informative, well written article. Let the man finish his contract. Don’t waste taxpayer money. It’s one year. Do what’s best for the community.
Wednesday, May 21 Report this
N_Alice_Newlon
Wysong followed correct procedures and had good reviews. He was well liked by teachers, students and the public...except for a few. It makes no sense to fire someone without a warning and remediation. I'm having deja vu with the fiasco of firing Cheri Coryea as county administrator, because a few wanted her gone, and replacing her, at high cost, with other county administrators that are not even close to her competence, transparency and acceptance, if not downright love, by the public.
Wednesday, May 21 Report this
David Daniels
Wow! So disappointed in Mr. Kennedy. You take the lead on firing the man and all you have is that you don't like his tone? And then you use Mitch's column to apologize - blaming your failure to explain a valid reason on "not being a good public speaker." It doesn't take a good public speaker to just provide a valid reason to terminate a person who has produced stellar results. If you are not a comfortable public speaker, how about just have a list of valid reasons - or at least ONE valid reason - and read it? By all accounts, Dr. Wysong was doing his job professionally and ethically, and had produced results. I voted for you because I thought you were a common sense person. A facts over petty politics person. The opposite of Spray. So where is the common sense in this? Where are the facts to explain this? This makes no sense, at least none that you have had plenty of opportunity to provide but haven't. Your best reason is that "you believe" the next one will be better. With book-banners Choate, Tatem and Spray having a majority, I don't share your optimism.
Wednesday, May 21 Report this
writerlynn9717
Appears like too much of a personal grievance a few MC school board "good-old boys" had with a Wysong employee decision against a possible friend employee who is on the "good old boy" team, as well. Could it possibly be a coach? Kennedy and Choate are Manatee "good old boys," with certain positional powers or perceived powers. Reminds me so much of the high performing superintendent, Rick Mills, who was fired during the *** scandal at Manatee High when he went after the bad player employees for a cover up and nepotism. I hope it's not like that again. Rick Mills had strict morals and knew right from wrong, and he treated all employees equal because he was the superintendent with integrity first, not friends with employees. Most importantly, he was embedded in the clique here. The Manatee school system seems to be going backward with board members making personal decisions instead of looking outside their own prejudices. Communication goes both ways. Do school board members want a superintendent with integrity or not?
Wednesday, May 21 Report this
charliekennedy
David D,
I spent 30 minutes going through my experience with the Superintendent, including my reasons I believed we could fire him with cause. I hope you’ll actually listen to what I said and not take Mitch’s report as the only source of information before you judge me.
My comments above this morning were in response to his criticism of my message and delivery, not a justification of why I supported a termination.
Wednesday, May 21 Report this
David Daniels
Now that I have actually watched the meeting, I don't agree that Mr. Kennedy didn't have valid reasons. It was painful to listen to all of Kennedy's explanation. My gosh, he took 30 minutes when he could have made his case in 2 minutes. Basically, there was an employee issue (we didn't get details) but Mr Kennedy tried to work with Wysong on resolving away from a public meeting. Wysong declined and brought it too the board, but the board rejected Wysong in a 5-0 vote. Turns out Wysong should have accepted Kennedy's advice to work it out. Afterwards, Wysong chasaticizes Kennedy in front of school employees. Kennedy lets that go but some time later an employee brings a school safety issue to Kennedy, which Kennedy then brings to Wysong's attention. Wysong ignores Kennedy.Turns out Wysong is not replying to Kennedy's emails. Mr. Kennedy should have just gotten to the point. If public speaking is uncomfortable (something I can relate to) - then speak less. Speak plainly. We didn't need to hear about Daughtery elementary, chasing kindergartners, self deprecation comments and jokes about skin cancer. Your reasons were valid for voting to dismiss. It wasn't tone. Not responding to direct emails is insubordination.
Wednesday, May 21 Report this