Manatee School Board hires Jason Wysong from Seminole County as next superintendent

At a special meeting Tuesday morning, the Manatee County School Board selected Jason Wysong by a vote of 4-1 as the school district's next superintendent.

Wysong, 45, will start following Cynthia Saunders' retirement on June 30. Saunders had been superintendent of the Manatee School District since June 2018 and announced her retirement last October.

Wysong, a deputy superintendent for Seminole County Public Schools since 2021, holds an education doctorate from the University of Central Florida. He was among three finalists for the position, along with Scott Schneider, chief of schools for Duval County Public Schools, and Doug Wagner, the deputy superintendent of operations at the Manatee School District.

“I am honored by today’s vote and excited to join the Manatee County community,” Wysong said in a statement. “Thank you to the School Board members for their thoughtful deliberation and support."

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Some board members expressed doubt about all three of the finalists. Mary Foreman made a motion to extend the search by two weeks, which failed by a 4-1 vote. She said she didn't have confidence in any of the three finalists for the position, and that the district didn't bring in the best candidates because of other openings in Florida, internal candidates for the position and Florida's open government laws deterring people from applying.

Cindy Spray said she didn't feel any of the three finalists "checked all the boxes" for her, as she was specifically looking for a background in finances. She said she wasn't sure any of the candidates were the right choice for Manatee County.

"We need to keep looking," she said, adding that she wanted to "let the dust settle" because of how many districts statewide were also searching for a superintendent.

Following debate that considered other applicants and extending the deadline, the board eventually moved to hire Wysong.

“Now we know moving forward that once Superintendent Saunders retires, we have a leader, a very capable leader,” said board Chairman Chad Choate, who was the dissenting vote. “We are excited to get him in and get the negotiations done to give him the reins starting in July.”

Richard Tatem expressed that he wasn't sure if it was worth extending the process or appointing an interim. He emphasized the scope of the search and said anyone who was interested was given ample opportunity to apply. Tatem said Wysong exuded a "humble confidence" in the board's one-on-one interview, and that he was mature for his age.

Sarasota County schools

Sarasota County is also searching for a new superintendent, after the School Board late last year forced out Brennan Asplen as the district's top administrator.

The board hired a search firm, McPherson & Jacobson LLC, to assist in the process and conduct a series of meetings with the community and employees to compile information on qualities and characteristics people want in the next superintendent.

The Manatee School Board alluded to Sarasota's firing of Asplen during its discussion on contract terms, as several board members floated clauses that would protect a superintendent from being fired following a school board election.

"Some of the decisions other boards have made in regards to terminating superintendents right after an election was hasty," Foreman said. "Had they possibly had time to work with and cooperate with the superintendent, it could have had a different result,"

Sarasota district leaders plan to hire a superintendent by late July or early August.

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: Manatee School Board hires Wysong as district's next superintendent