Hours ahead of a school board meeting anticipated to draw large numbers due to recent controversial issues surrounding Hernando public schools, three Hernando County legislators issued a joint statement calling for the resignation of Hernando County School District Superintendent John Stratton.
Florida State Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), State Representative Jeff Holcomb (R-Spring Hill), and State Representative John Temple (R-Wildwood) issued the following joint statement:
“Today, we are collectively calling for the resignation of Hernando Schools Superintendent John Stratton. It is clear to us that Superintendent Stratton has lost the confidence of parents, grandparents, and our community. We can no longer sit back and allow the Hernando County school system to make national news for its poor decisions, lack of transparency and accountability, and its contempt for parental rights. Whether it is pornographic material in our schools, not notifying parents when their children may have been around an alleged pedophile, or allowing a teacher back in the classroom after threatening to kill students, it is clear to us that change is needed, and it is needed now.”
During the May 9 regular school board meeting, school board member Mark Johnson made a motion for a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Stratton.
Stratton stated, “What I’d like to offer to this board is at any time, tonight or in the future, if we need to go in a different direction, I will voluntarily step aside.”
Ultimately, the board voted to table the vote of no-confidence on May 9 (3-2).
Tonight’s school board meeting begins at 6:00 pm at Hernando High School theater. There are many business-related items on the agenda. Citizens’ comments on general topics are scheduled to be heard after the business portion of the meeting.
Many political groups, as well as concerned community members, are urging fellow residents to attend the meeting. Most recently, a mass text message paid for by Empower Parents PAC (formerly Friends of Ron DeSantis) was delivered to county residents asking them to attend the meeting to support parental rights.
The following security requirements are in place: Bags (purses, backpacks, etc.) will not be allowed in the theater, and all attendees will be required to be screened by metal detectors. Additional law enforcement and school guardians will be present throughout the meeting. Those who plan to attend the workshop and the regular meeting will be required to exit the theater at the end of the workshop and to re-screen prior to the start of the 6 PM regular meeting. With the exception of water, no food or drink will be permitted in the theater. Attendees and members of the media will park in the front parking lot adjacent to Howell Avenue. The side lot, to the right of the school, will not be open to the public.
