Florida’s secretary of education says the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) violated state law during a contentious school board meeting Thursday and is working to withhold funding equal to the salaries of all five school board members.
Secretary of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas delivered the news in a Friday letter to SBAC Chair Sarah Rockwell, whose controversial Facebook comments escalated into a national story this week. In the letter, Kamoutsas also wrote that he would not renew Rockwell’s certificate to teach in Florida.
The issue started when Rockwell commented on her personal Facebook about the July 24 death of Hulk Hogan. She said he’d never been a good guy.
“Oh did Hulk die? I didn’t even know. Good. One less MAGA in the world,” the comment said.
Backlash came fast from around the county. National and international outlets—including Fox News, The Independent and The Daily Caller—picked up the story, and the Alachua County Republican Party called for her resignation.
Rockwell apologized for the comment on her official Facebook page and during the school board meeting. She also said the backlash has included death threats, harassment and the public release of her home address.
Emails to her school district account show multiple messages with vile comments toward Rockwell.
“My hope is that you pissed off a deranged person that will take you OUT,” one said.
Kamoutsas targeted not just the Hogan comments but mainly how the school board treated a parent who commented at the board’s meeting. His letter said he found probable cause of state law violations and will recommend the State Board of Education (BOE) investigate the matter.
“Not only did you allow a parent’s constitutional rights to be violated under your leadership, but the rest of the board stood by silently, failing to stop it,” Kamoutsas wrote.
He added that the BOE can issue sanctions if a school district fails to cooperate or fix its actions, and Kamoutsas said he is recommending the board withhold funds equal to the salaries of all five school board members.
The letter said that, as chair, Rockwell will need to attend the BOE meeting on Aug. 20 in order to update the board on what corrective actions the school district has taken.
Kamoutsas ended the letter by noting that Rockwell has a teacher’s certificate in Florida.
“I strongly recommend that you not apply for renewal,” he wrote. “Considering I will not permit you to hold a Florida teaching certificate, I think it’s time for some reflection on whether you are properly equipped to serve on the Alachua County School Board.”
On Friday, the school district released the following statement in response.
“Everyone who requested to speak at the School Board meeting was able to do so. Regardless of their expressed viewpoint, no one was required to leave the meeting. It is our belief that everyone’s First Amendment rights were upheld.”
At Thursday’s SBAC meeting, Rockwell issued a second apology over her comments. She said it was her mistake alone and added that she wouldn’t address the issue again so the district could move forward.
“As a public official, I know that I am held to a higher standard, and I should have been more thoughtful. I’m not perfect, and I know that. And I know that I can—and will—do better,” Rockwell said.
Board member Janine Plavac, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April, said Rockwell should step down as the board chair. But other members disagreed.
The district needed overflow space for all the meeting attendees, and, one by one, teachers, parents and citizens stepped up to the podium and voiced their support for Rockwell.
While not excusing the comments, supporters emphasized that everyone makes mistakes and stressed the importance of moving forward for the betterment of the teachers and students.
But a couple of commenters disagreed.
One man, identified as Jeremy, berated several board members and said Rockwell should resign if she has “a shred of integrity.” He called SBAC an echo chamber and was glad DeSantis had appointed Plavac as a new member. His full comments are in a video at the bottom of the story.
He concluded on full blast against Rockwell.
“You’re a Ph.D., aren’t you? A highly educated woman that knows the exact meaning behind her words. Aren’t you? You know what you said, and you should step down. You’re a disgusting vile, human being,” the man said.
Members of the crowd responded as the man returned to his seat. The man called out to one person before sitting down. Board member Tina Certain, who was moderating the meeting, was already calling for the attorney and then asked for the deputies.
“Sir, I’m going to ask you to be removed from the auditorium,” Certain said as members of the crowd said “bye.”
The man stood and asked the deputy: “This is a public space, right?”
The crowd began to clap as the man complied and walked away with the deputy.
Over the mic, the SBAC attorney can be heard telling the board, “I do not recommend that.”
Certain pivots and said the man can stay, but then the crowd gets louder. Certain tries to speak and deputies ask the people to quiet.
“He needs to go,” one said. Another grabbed the microphone from the public podium and began to call out, “He’s a white supremacist and needs to get the hell out.” Then she turned on a citizen who appeared to move the microphone away and talk to her.
“Mind your damn business,” she said to him and through the mic.
The school board asked for a recess, and the audio and video feed were cut. In the room, the man who had been asked to leave spoke with the SBAC attorney before decided to leave with deputies around him.
The meeting and public comment started again, and Certain asked the crowd to let everyone speak without interfering or clapping.
Alachua County Public Schools released the following statement on Friday.
“Everyone who requested to speak at the School Board meeting was able to do so. Regardless of their expressed viewpoint, no one was required to leave the meeting. It is our belief that everyone’s First Amendment rights were upheld.”
In his letter, Kamoutsas said Rockwell had brought negative attention onto the Alachua County school district. He said it’s not fair for the teachers and staff who work in the district.
“Let me be clear, by publicly humiliating this parent for his views, you’ve created a chilling effect on all parents with similar beliefs,” Kamoutsas said. “You’ve signaled that certain viewpoints are not welcome in Alachua County Public Schools, and that should alarm every family in your district.”
The school district has not responded with a request for comment.
DeSantis declared Aug. 1 as Hulk Hogan Day in Florida and ordered flags be flown at half-staff to honor the wrestling icon.
