Brevard Schools legislative delegation luncheon sparks confusion, controversy

A luncheon held by Brevard's school board sparked confusion over Florida's Sunshine Law and prompted frustration from board member Jennifer Jenkins toward State Rep. Randy Fine.

While the invitation for Friday's event, posted to Brevard Public Schools' website, billed it as an informal legislative delegation luncheon, members of the public were confused over the way the notice was posted, as it was listed in the way that formal board meetings are.

The event, held at Brevard Zoo's Nyami Nyami River Lodge, lasted a little less than two hours, with school board members mainly discussing school vouchers and deregulation bills. Around 10 members of the public attended, with questions about school voucher funding.

Jenkins blasts Fine

Only a few minutes into the meeting, board member Jennifer Jenkins said she didn't have anything to thank Sen. Tom Wright and Sen. Debbie Mayfield for regarding the advancement of education. However, she expressed her gratitude to them for "having the courage" to attend the luncheon.

"People are missing from this room, obviously, and I think we know very well why," Jenkins said. "I don't know if maybe they got stuck behind their keyboard or ... underneath the desk they're hiding from, but the fact that our local representatives are too (cowardly) to sit inside of a room with one political official that they don't abide with is embarrassing."

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All board members but Matt Susin were present at the meeting. Susin was at a personal appointment at the time of the luncheon, said district spokesperson Russell Bruhn. Rep. Tyler Sirois had a scheduling conflict, and Bruhn was uncertain why Rep. Robert Brackett and Rep. Thad Altman didn't attend. Both Rep. Chase Tramont and Rep. Randy Fine declined the invite.

Jenkins blasted Fine, who the night prior to the luncheon posted negatively about her on his official Facebook account.

"I don't know if any of you have daughters, but I would like you to think about that — how this supposed representative of Brevard County attacks a young woman, the mother of a young daughter, relentlessly," she said. "It's disgusting, and I can assure you, he will be held accountable."

Fine said he appreciated the invite to the event, which, though it was a blanket invitation sent to all members of the Brevard delegation, he credited as coming specifically from Jenkins.

"While I appreciated Jennifer Jenkins inviting me to the zoo for a taxpayer-funded party, I am focused on fighting alongside Donald Trump, who has endorsed my campaign, for our children's futures," he said in a text to FLORIDA TODAY.

The years-long feud between Jenkins and Fine began around three years ago, when Fine posted Jenkins' personal phone number to his Facebook page and told his supporters to call her to express their displeasure about her support for COVID-19 mitigation efforts at the time. The number was also listed on Jenkins' qualification paperwork for the 2020 election, making it a public record.

Since then, numerous actions have taken place between the two, with Jenkins filing an injunction against Fine for cyberstalking, which was dismissed; Fine threatening state funding for Special Olympics because Jenkins was invited to a related fundraiser and Fine was not; Jenkins filing a lawsuit against Susin that accused him of withholding records requests related to call logs and text massages with Fine; and more.

Jenkins thanked Mayfield specifically for rectifying the "disaster and mess" she felt Fine has created in the past by taking away appropriations from Brevard.

"Continue to not be a coward," she said. "It's disturbing that you have to do that. It's wrong. It's wrong for the students of Brevard County, it's wrong for the staff of Brevard County, it's wrong for every single resident of Brevard County."

Several minutes later, she left, saying she had another meeting to attend.

Confusion over Florida's Sunshine Law

There was also controversy prior to the meeting because of confusion over Florida's Sunshine Law.

The law requires that public officials hold meetings publicly — or "in the sunshine" — and with prior notice. A notice for the meeting was put out Monday.

Public boards should generally avoid luncheons, as they can have a chilling effect on the public's willingness to attend, according to the Government in the Sunshine Manual. However, they're not prohibited from doing so.

In an email from School Board Attorney Paul Gibbs obtained by FLORIDA TODAY, Gibbs explained that it's generally best practice to put notices out seven days in advance, though Florida law doesn't explicitly state notices must be posted seven days prior to a meeting.

"I believe the notice is sufficient to afford the public and media notice and a reasonable opportunity to attend if they choose," he said in the email, adding that public comment would not be required for the meeting and only discussion would take place with no action by the board.

Still, community members took to social media with complaints that the late notice and location of the meeting was an attempt to bar them from attending.

Questions about the meeting's location and date were posted on Brevard Public Schools Watch, a Facebook page that is generally critical of Brevard's school board.

"We encourage everyone to show up and watch the interactions between the school board members and the local legislative delegation (who is unannounced)," the post said.

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@floridatoday.com. X: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Jenkins-Fine feud sparks controversy at Brevard Schools luncheon