The State Board of Education (SBOE) met on Wednesday, with members receiving an update on School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) meetings and addressing recent incidents involving school board members and the district. 

The state has been monitoring the SBAC since its most recent board meeting on Aug. 20. It was during this meeting that the board agreed with Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas in finding probable cause that the school board violated a parent’s First Amendment rights, as well as Florida law, at a contentious meeting on July 31 that centered on social media comments made by Board Chair Sarah Rockwell on the death of pro wrestler Hulk Hogan. 

During Wednesday’s meeting, Dustin Sims, lead state executive director for the Florida Department of Education’s (FLDOE) Bureau of School Improvement, told state board members that he attended the Sept. 2 school board meeting – the first one held after the Aug. 20 state board meeting. 

The meeting on Sept. 2 was also the first one with the school board’s revised public comment policy in place.  

Sims said the meeting “lacked decorum and organization.”  

Board Vice Chair Tina Certain chaired the meeting in place of Rockwell, who was under the weather and did not attend. 

“The absence of structure resulted in evident confusion among board members, in which Chair Certain did not establish a clear, professional tone for the meeting,” Sims said. 

Sims referenced the board’s vote to move a “purchasing item” from the consent agenda to an action item. The two items the board voted to move from consent to action involved the 2025-26 uniform assessment calendar and a school surveillance camera system access agreement with the Gainesville Police Department (GPD). 

“While moving agenda items is not inherently problematic, the questions posed by the board members demonstrated minimal preparation or advanced review, which are essential responsibilities of elected officials,” he said.  

Sims said his biggest concern from the meeting, however, was Certain’s recounting of her presence at the Aug. 20 state board meeting.  

During the board member announcements portion of the Sept. 2 meeting, Certain referenced three video clips that were played at the state board meeting. Kamoutsas shared the clips as examples of the school board violating the First Amendment and parents’ rights in meetings, which he said, “has become a persistent problem.” 

At the Sept. 2 meeting, Certain also touched on the order issued by the state board. The order requires the school board to document compliance with the First Amendment by adopting policies that protect the right to free speech and comply with Florida statutes. 

“I’m of the opinion that the order was prewritten before we got there and said a word, based on the time it was sent,” Certain said at the Sept. 2 meeting, adding the order had a 1 p.m. time and the state board was still meeting then. 

In accordance with the order, board members are required to receive training on the policies and implement and follow them for the duration of the 2025-26 school year. 

Per the order, the school board had 48 hours upon receiving the mandate to adopt and receive training on the policies and notify the state board of its compliance. The order stated that if the school board demonstrates compliance, Kamoutsas will begin to monitor the board meetings to make sure no First Amendment violations are happening. 

“They [the state] say the sole decision is up to him [Kamoutsas] whether or not we violate the order. He could watch the meeting today, and if it’s a bad day for him, I guess he could say we violated the order,” Certain said at the Sept. 2 meeting. “I think if that’s the case, I’m hoping that we have three votes to fight that and contest that.” 

Sims said school boards should be a model on how to “receive, process and act upon feedback.” 

“Even when it’s challenging, or maybe even critical, this should be to improve performance,” he said. “Unfortunately, the Sept. 2 Alachua [County] School Board meeting did not reflect these principles.” 

Certain’s name was also mentioned in the meeting for a separate issue about a recent social media comment she made regarding the late Charlie Kirk. 

Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.  

Several of the state board members expressed concern over Certain’s comment and the leadership ability of the school board. 

“This is a board that has complete disregard for operating as a board, as the oversight for the Alachua [County] School District,” Board Chair Ryan Petty said. “They are alienating a large portion of the community and the families that they are to serve. It’s beyond troubling.” 

Petty told Kamoutsas that he would like Certain to come before the state board at its next meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13, to answer some additional questions from members. 

In the meantime, Petty asked Kamoutsas to look into “options” on what can be done with the school board prior to the state board’s next meeting. 

“I, quite frankly, am of the opinion that somebody [who] would write that [comment] and post it on Facebook doesn’t belong on a state board or any district in the state,” he said. “That’s irresponsible.” 

Commissioner finds probable cause against GHS teacher 

Earlier in Wednesday’s meeting, Kamoutsas gave an update on an investigation into bullying accusations against Gainesville High School history teacher Lauren Watts. 

During the public comment portion of the Aug. 20 state board meeting, a parent – Dr. Crystal Marull  – said Watts allowed students to label her older son as a “Naziphile, simply for his interest in World War II history and participation in ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps).” 

Murall later accused Watts of nominating her son “as the most likely to become a dictator,” noting Watts had her son’s classmates “voted on it and tried to force him to the front of the class” to receive a certificate, which he refused.  

Kamoutsas said the FLDOE’s Office of Professional Practical Services (PPS) investigated the matter, and he has found “probable cause” against Watts’ teaching certificate and “will take every necessary action to ensure” she doesn’t teach again.   

ACPS fails to submit SESIR data 

Also during Wednesday’s meeting, Kamoutsas revealed that while the FLDOE’s Office of Safe Schools was reviewing the district’s safety measures, it was discovered that the district did not submit its School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting (SESIR) data.  

Kamoutsas said SESIR “tracks incidents and analyzes patterns of violent and disruptive behavior at schools.” 

“The goal is to have complete SESIR data from which to design interventions to improve learning environments for students,” he said. 

Alachua County was the only district in the state that did not submit its SESIR data, Kamoutsas said. 

FLDOE Chancellor Paul Burns noted that Kamoutsas sent a letter to the district on Tuesday, notifying them they were out of compliance by not reporting SESIR data. Burns added that the letter indicated the district had three days to respond. 

Petty said he would like an update in three days on whether the district is complying with the law. 

“If they are not in compliance, then I would like to see an emergency board meeting called,” he said.  

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.