Dubin to teachers and staff: don’t make yourselves part of Ziegler controversy

Last evening, the School Board voted to ask board member Bridget Ziegler to resign her seat on the Sarasota County School Board.

The motion passed 4 to 1, though the motion has no teeth. Only the Governor can remove a School Board member from office.

The public spoke for nearly four hours, mostly in favor of Ms. Ziegler resigning. Ms. Ziegler gave no indication that she intends to resign.

I have tried to shy away from jumping in on the drama of the Ziegler saga. Watching a family self-destruct in plain sight is unnerving. There are no winners, just losers.

On the other hand, there are no two adults more deserving of their trials and tribulations than the Zieglers.

I feel compelled to break my silence because various school staffs are contacting us about walking off the job until Bridget resigns.

We cannot allow this to occur, as it would put the spotlight on our staff rather than on the Zieglers, where it belongs.

I have spent my adult life representing Sarasota teachers and classified staff, trying to minimize the damage that a person suffers for making a mistake or a lapse in judgement in their work or personal lives.

Here’s what makes this case different: anyone who has ever dealt with the Zieglers knows they would show no mercy if the tables were turned.

Team Ziegler is first and foremost a business enterprise. Public service does not appear to be their primary (or even secondary) goal. We don’t want to lower the staff of this school district to their level.

Clearly, if Bridget Ziegler were interested in the public good, she would resign her seat and allow this district to move forward. We all deserve better than to have our School Board meetings repeatedly disrupted by those on the left or right, trying to make political points at the expense of the district’s focus on student gains and the great achievement of this district’s staff

And while I am on the subject, great job on the test scores last year, despite all of the chaos thrown your way!

Have a great vacation, one and all!

— Barry Dubin, Executive Director, Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association