© 2024 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Sarasota Schools Superintendent Todd Bowden Offers To Resign

school board meeting in Sarasota
Superintendent Todd Bowden faced calls to resign at a packed Sarasota School Board meeting earlier this month. Kerry Sheridan/WUSF

Sarasota Schools Superintendent Todd Bowden has agreed to step down from his post.

A “mutual separation agreement” was announced Monday evening by Sarasota schools spokeswoman Tracey Beeker, a week after a contentious five-hour school board meeting that saw dozens of residents call for his ouster.

The school board must meet on November 19 to decide whether or not to approve the deal.

Sarasota Schools Superintendent Todd Bowden
Sarasota Schools Superintendent Todd Bowden. PHOTO CREDIT: Sarasota County Schools

According to the terms, Bowden would go on paid leave through the end of the year, then receive a severance of 20 weeks’ pay. He would also be reimbursed for legal fees amounting to $65,000.

Bowden’s critics say he failed to act swiftly enough when he learned in April that his top deputy, Jeff Maultsby, was accused of sexually harassing a co-worker, Cheraina Bonner.

Maultsby resigned last month. Bonner is suing the school board for discrimination.

Until now, Bowden had said he hoped to stay on as superintendent, though he did propose leaving the post in exchange for another job in the school district, overseeing facilities, at a salary of $175,000 per year for 10 years.

That proposal was roundly criticized at the school board meeting last week.

Bowden was named superintendent in 2016 and began serving in the role in March 2017.

I cover health and K-12 education – two topics that have overlapped a lot since the pandemic began.
You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.