Bridget Ziegler absent as public rallies against her at Sarasota School Board meeting

A salacious storm of scolding directed at school board member Bridget Ziegler fell on deaf ears as her chair sat empty during Tuesday's Sarasota School Board meeting.

The board approved items on reading intervention programs, construction funding and charter school contracts as the public continued to scorn the board for its role in rejecting new Title IX protections against gender identity discrimination. Public commenters also addressed new details about Ziegler's sex life driven by an investigation into a rape allegation against her husband Christian, the now-former chairman of the Florida Republican Party.

Ziegler was absent at Tuesday's meeting because she was on a field trip with her daughter, Board Chairwoman Karen Rose said.

Ahead of the meeting, new details emerged regarding Ziegler and her husband hunting for sexual partners at bars with Christian taking pictures of women for Bridget to approve. The couple's "prowling" for sex partners was first reported in the Florida Trident, a publication of the Florida Center for Government Accountability.

Christian faced rape allegations by a woman he’d known for years stemming from a planned three-way sexual encounter between Christian, the alleged victim and Bridget — who wasn't able to attend. Sarasota police ultimately did not move forward with charges.

Following the allegations, the Sarasota School Board approved a resolution calling on Ziegler, a founder of the conservative activist group Moms for Liberty who has sat on the board for almost 10 years, to resign.

Public speaks on Title IX, Ziegler

Public comment, a portion of school board meetings that have recently gone well over three hours, saw several speakers mention the details of Ziegler and her husband's hunt for sexual partners as board chairwoman Karen Rose tried to curb discussion.

Lisa Schurr, a local activist who frequently attends meetings, called Ziegler a "predator" and a danger to the district's females. Rose called for Schurr's microphone to be cut off, adjourning the meeting for five minutes.

“The way you're addressing this board is unacceptable,” Rose said.

“The way this board treats the public is unacceptable. But that's neither here nor there,” Schurr replied.

At the previous meeting, Ziegler championed a resolution — which passed 4-1 — to reject new federal Title IX protections against gender identity discrimination, stating that children and girls were in danger. Steven Russell, who spoke at Tuesday's meeting, juxtaposed Ziegler's "predatory behavior" with her policy.

"Mrs. Ziegler said she had to propose this resolution because she had to stand by her platform of strong family values," said Steven Russell. "With that said, again there's public record of her texts where she's exhibited predatory behavior, yet you still support her."

Jules Rain, a trans woman, also spoke on the recently passed Title IX resolution. She said Ziegler's resolution spreads hateful rhetoric that harms the district's LGBTQ+ students.

"This board is denying the humanity of their trans students. They are oppressing them and denying their right to exist in certain spaces simply based on who they are, how they exist in the world and it's not right," she said. "Your body is supposed to protect every student every day, and you're not doing that."

To end public comment time, local activist Robin Williams gave a pointed speech about Ziegler's conduct and presented a petition that renewed the call for Ziegler to step down.

In her speech, she said it was "unethical" and said her conduct was unfit for someone holding public office.

"Such behavior is highly unethical ... it's imperative that the Sarasota School Board and our state local officials not only demand [Ziegler's] immediate resignation, but they must write to Governor DeSantis insisting on her removal."

Board approves charter contract

Outside of public comment and the ongoing Ziegler discourse, the board approved several items in its agenda including funding for teacher retention, a new secondary school reading intervention program, and a charter contract between the district and the newly-approved Sarasota Classical Preparatory Academy.

On the approval of the charter contract, Board member Tim Enos expressed reservations in his "yes" vote but said it was ultimately out of his hands because of pro-charter legislation from the Florida Legislature.

"Our hands are tied," Enos said. "So with that high reluctance, as we are mandated to approve it based upon the [Florida Department of Education], I'll be approving it."

Edwards, however, voted no because he said the school doesn't represent the best of what Sarasota has to offer for schools. He added that sometimes the board should stand up to the Florida Legislature about charter schools.

"We never were given the opportunity to have that conversation amongst board members to discuss the pros and cons," Edwards said. "Just falling over and playing dead to a legislative initiative."

The board also approved a $750,000 agreement with the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation to help fund teacher retention, recruitment and recognition efforts. The funds will also help give teaching interns additional stipends in order to help recruit them to stay with the district, Superintendent Terry Connor said.

We're looking forward to all of the efforts around teacher recruitment, as we continue to battle the national teacher shortage crisis and we thank the Baranciks for all of their help," Connor said.

Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Bridget Ziegler absent from Sarasota School Board as public decries her