Big changes come to New College of Florida during Board of Trustees meeting

6:30 p.m. | New College Board of Trustees appoints Richard Corcoran as interim president

Despite a last-minute effort by Student Body President Grace Keenan to postpone the decision, the New College Board of Trustees appointed former Republican state House speaker and education commissioner Richard Corcoran, a close ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis and ardent supporter of his education culture war battles, to take over as interim president of New College of Florida.

6:00 p.m. | New College Board of Trustees terminates employment of President Patricia Okker

The New College Board of Trustees voted to terminate the employment contract of New College President Patricia Okker about 6 p.m. They then began discussing plans to bring in Richard Corcoran, former Florida Education Commissioner, to take over as interim president in March.

Before the vote, Student Body President Grace Keenan suggested that the board of trustees should get to know both Okker and the college before they make any decisions, while new board member Christopher Rufo said that new leadership is expected at New College.

It was also pointed out that firing Okker without cause would require 2/3 of the board of trustees to vote in favor, as well as 120 days notice.

Most of the pre-existing board members spoke very favorably about Okker's skills and what she has accomplished since she began her tenure at New College less than two years ago.

"The support I feel in this room is incredible," said Okker, "but I am going to let you down and I have to explain this."

"The vision we created together, is not the vision I have been given as a mandate here, and that is a hard reality," said Okker.

Okker said she couldn't go along with "new mandate" at New College. "This is a hostile takeover."

Okker was interrupted by board member Ron Christaldi, who motioned to terminate her employment contract. That was seconded, and then Okker began to speak again.

“I believe a president needs to stand behind her words when she asks donors to contribute," Okker said. "You cannot ask me to go forward and argue that we are indoctrinating students here," referring to Gov. Ron DeSantis' frequent talking point that Florida universities were indoctrinating students in "woke" points of view.

Okker was interrupted a second time to vote on the motion, which passed.

A few in the crowd began to cry as Okker finally was able to give her remarks after she was terminated as president of New College. As her voice cracked towards the end, the overflow room burst into applause after Okker finished.

5:45 p.m. | New College Board of Trustees backs down from Rufo motion to abolish Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence

After much discussion, instead of abolishing the college's Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence, terminate the employment of the four employees of said office, remove diversity statements and mandatory diversity training, and prohibit identity preferences, the New College Board of Trustees voted to study the issue further and draft a policy based on model legislation presented by board member Christopher Rufo.

Several people mentioned that the Office does more than just execute diversity, equity and inclusion policies, including financial education for students and outreach to the Sarasota community.

5:15 p.m. | Christopher Rufo motions to abolish New College's Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence

New board member and frequent critic of diversity and equity initiatives Christopher Rufo proposed an extensive motion to abolish the Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence, terminate the employment of the four employees of said office, remove diversity statements and mandatory diversity training, and prohibit identity preferences.

Rufo said diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) divide people, which was met with jeers from the audience. Board Chair Maria Ruiz asked the crowd in the conference center to withhold their comments and outbursts. As Rufo concluded his presentation, “boos” erupted in the overflow room.

“You must understand that for many, many people in Florida, in this country, DEI is experienced as coercive," said new board member Mark Bauerlein. Somebody in the audience responded by shouting "white people."

4:45 p.m. | Standing ovation for reportedly outgoing New College President Patricia Okker

New College President Patricia Okker delivered her report to the Board of Trustees, touting many of the school's students and programs. When she was done, most of the spectators in the room rose to their feet and gave her a standing ovation.

According to multiple media outlets, former Republican state House speaker and education commissioner Richard Corcoran, a close ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis and ardent supporter of his education culture war battles, appeared to be preparing to take over as president of New College of Florida.

That said, Okker has not resigned, yet.

New College Student Body President Grace Keenan spoke after Okker and said that New College's unique education model should be the model for higher education everywhere. She also praised Okker for solving many of the issues the college has faced during her tenure.

4:15 p.m. | First effort of new trustee to assert authority fails

New trustee Eddie Speir tried to remove an item from the consent agenda that college officials said was routine. One said $900,000 in funding is at stake. Mark Bauerlein and Anderson – also new trustees – opposed the attempt, as did the board holdovers

“Do your homework,” yelled someone in the overflow room Speir said he needed more time to look over the agenda item. The room exploded in applause and cheers when the motion to defer the item failed.

Recent coverage:

• New College board member floats leadership shakeup, 'terminating' all employee contracts

• Board agenda raises questions about New College leadership shakeup Tuesday

• New era at New College kicks off with contentious meetings, report of death threat

• Latest New College board appointment gives conservatives a majority

• New board member says his assignment is 'to lead New College of Florida out of wokeness'

• New College officials deny new board member's request for prayer

• New board member: New College reforms not about turning school 'into something it is not'

• New College supporters criticize transformation plan during meeting with state lawmakers

• Board member: Turning Sarasota's New College into conservative 'Hillsdale of the south' unlikely

• New College students say DeSantis' board appointments go against Sarasota school's values

• New College board member’s Twitter feed: COVID conspiracies and climate-change denial

• 'We will not go down without a fight,' students vow after DeSantis move to upend New College

• DeSantis seeks to transform Sarasota's New College with conservative board takeover

3:45 p.m. | Nothing but criticism for new board members from public speakers at New College of Florida Board of Trustees meeting

30 minutes into the first New College Board of Trustees meeting since DeSantis reshaped the board, and so far it has been nothing but criticism from the audience - 13 speakers so far, all against what's happening.

New College math professor Chris Kottke read a statement – endorsed by 68 of his colleagues – supporting college President Patricia Okker, who is poised to be replaced by former Republican House Speaker and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran.

"A fourth-year thesis student said to me today they are disheartened about going on to a world that is like what you are trying to make it," said Diego Villada, a theatre professor who also spoke at the faculty forum last week.

As the public comment section of the board meeting wrapped, the overflow room had several seats still open, but those who were present applauded and pounded on the wooden tables.

3:20 p.m. | Lively public comment begins at New College of Florida Board of Trustees meeting

Speakers needed to register in advance and were given one minute to speak, as opposed to the three minutes usually allowed.

Meanwhile, some waiting to attend the meeting were unable to enter after the room's capacity was reached. They were directed to an overflow room where they can watch the livestream.

3:05 p.m. | New College Board of Trustees meeting begins with a prayer

2:55 p.m. | Watch the livestream of the New College Board of Trustees meeting

The meeting is expected to begin at 3 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m.

2:45 p.m. | New College President Patricia Okker expected to step down, Corcoran to be interim president

Former Republican state House speaker and education commissioner Richard Corcoran, a close ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis and ardent supporter of his education culture war battles, appeared to be preparing to take over as president of New College of Florida.

DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske confirmed Corcoran's appointment to the Tampa Bay Times.

"Yes, it's real," Fenske told the Times.

Corcoran served as DeSantis' education commissioner when he pushed to ban critical race theory and mask mandates from public schools. He currently serves on the state Board of Governors, which oversees Florida's university system, and previously applied to be president of Florida State University.

New College's board is meeting for the first time Tuesday since DeSantis reshaped the body earlier this month by appointing six new board members. A majority of the 13-member board appears set to approve Corcoran as the next New College president, replacing current President Patricia Okker in a major leadership shakeup.

2:30 p.m. | New College students and allies speak about what changes could bring to New College

Speaking outside of the New College Board of Trustees meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., students and allies have been speaking out about their concerns for the future of the school under the regime of new trustees appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“New College was appealing to me due to its unwavering support for LGBT students and its open-minded, free-thought based curriculum,” said one student. "We want to strive for brave and liberated learning spaces where we are free to think critically and challenge the status quo.”

“This is my home, and the state government is taking it away from me,” said student Casey Bates. She said if DeSantis gets his way, LGBTQ students will walk onto a campus that has a political agenda, not an educational agenda.

Another student speaker referenced the removal of books from Manatee County classrooms and the state's denial of AP African American Studies as aspects of the issue of DeSantis’ education agenda on top of the takeover of New College.

The same student said that at New College "I’ve read Adam Smith as much as I’ve read Karl Marx.”

2 p.m. | Large crowds, long lines and police presence before New College of Florida trustees meeting

Herald-Tribune staff outside Sudakoff Hall on New College's campus report more than 105 people in line to enter the Board of Trustees meeting, as well as groups of students and others protesting nearby. Some are chanting "protect Pat" to show support for New College President Patricia Okker.

Governor's spokeswoman Taryn Fenske confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times that former Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran will be named interim president of the university, Another news outlet was reporting that Okker is expected to step down.

There are multiple police cars on site, including explosives experts from the Sarasota Police Department.

Noon | What to know before today's New College Board of Trustees meeting

Today's meeting of the New College of Florida Board of Trustees, which runs from 3-5 p.m. at the Sudakoff Conference Center, has been a subject of intense interest. It is the first meeting for seven new conservative board members, including six chosen by DeSantis.

A new president, new board chair and new legal counsel for the board all will be up for discussion when the board meets, along with the possibility of ending faculty tenure, terminating all employee contracts and rehiring anyone who fits into the school's "new financial and business model." These are all ideas floated by new board member Eddie Speir in a recent Substack post.

New College President Patricia Okker has been on the job for less than two years, but DeSantis' push to transform the school has led to speculation about her future at the college and that only increased when Tuesday's board agenda was released with "President Okker's Employment Agreement" as one of the discussion items.

It's not clear if a majority of board members would back a leadership shakeup at the college.

– Zac Anderson

11:45 | Recent Herald-Tribune coverage of New College's new trustees

• New College board member floats leadership shakeup, 'terminating' all employee contracts

• Board agenda raises questions about New College leadership shakeup Tuesday

• New era at New College kicks off with contentious meetings, report of death threat

• Latest New College board appointment gives conservatives a majority

• New board member says his assignment is 'to lead New College of Florida out of wokeness'

• New College officials deny new board member's request for prayer

• New board member: New College reforms not about turning school 'into something it is not'

• New College supporters criticize transformation plan during meeting with state lawmakers

• Board member: Turning Sarasota's New College into conservative 'Hillsdale of the south' unlikely

• New College students say DeSantis' board appointments go against Sarasota school's values

• New College board member’s Twitter feed: COVID conspiracies and climate-change denial

• 'We will not go down without a fight,' students vow after DeSantis move to upend New College

• DeSantis seeks to transform Sarasota's New College with conservative board takeover

11 a.m. | In Bradenton, DeSantis wants $10 million in recurring funding for New College transformation

Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted New College of Florida Tuesday on the cusp of a big Board of Trustees meeting, saying the school has been too focused on racial and "gender ideology" and will be reformed by a new board he put in place, which is getting big money to recruit new faculty.

DeSantis announced during an event in Bradenton that he wants $15 million next year for faculty recruitment and scholarships at New College, with $10 million of that being recurring funds.

– Zac Anderson

Read the story:DeSantis wants $10 million in recurring funding for New College transformation

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Live: New College of Florida Board of Trustees meeting DeSantis