Письмо в редакцию: издание Sarasota Herald-Tribune ошибочно поддержало кандидата в совет школы ДеВитт

Herald-Tribune chose poorly with Sarasota School Board pick | Letter Sarasota Herald-Tribune Updated Thu, August 13, 2026 at 8:05 AM UTC 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Herald-Tribune wrong to endorse DeWitt Though the Sarasota Herald-Tribune currently operates with a reduced journalist staff, it needs to do a better job researching School Board candidates. DeWitt told the Herald-Tribune she's "just not into any of the political stuff," and that she wants "to be a calm, common-sense voice" on the School Board. Advertisement Advertisement Yet her political activity and public comments suggest otherwise. DeWitt was vice chair of Sarasota's Moms for Liberty, the organization that created culture wars. At a recent School Board meeting DeWitt attacked School Board Member Tom Edwards, blaming him for her decision to remove her children from our public schools. Although DeWitt is purportedly a licensed mental health therapist, she repeatedly attacked Social Emotional Learning (SEL), a respected approach for improving student behavior and well-being. On her Facebook page, DeWitt mocked a man wearing a kilt at a Super Bowl halftime performance and wrote: "Wake Up America Make Men Great Again." Advertisement Advertisement No person seeking therapy should be subjected to her homophobia. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Wellen Park High School athletic director Phu Nguyen. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The gymnasium is decorated in school colors - red, white and blue. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The gymnasium is decorated in school colors - red, white and blue. The school mascot can be found in many locations, including center court. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The gymnasium is decorated in school colors - red, white and blue. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The gymnasium includes a VIP window where guests can watch games for a lounge setting. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The gymnasium includes a VIP window where guests can watch games for a lounge setting. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Wellen Park principal Mar Grossenbacher. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The impressive weight room carries on the school mascot theme and is also decorated in school colors. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The impressive weight room carries on the school mascot theme and is also decorated in school colors. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The impressive weight room carries on the school mascot theme and is also decorated in school colors. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The impressive weight room carries on the school mascot theme and is also decorated in school colors. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The impressive weight room carries on the school mascot theme and is also decorated in school colors. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The wrestling team will have its own practice room. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) A training room, complete with ice baths, is located near the gymnasium and wrestling room. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Like all other Sarasota County high schools, the field surface is artficial grass to reduce maintenance costs. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Like all other Sarasota County high schools, the field surface is artficial grass to reduce maintenance costs. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The football stadium has a capacity of more than 6,000 seats. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Like all other Sarasota County high schools, the field surface is artficial grass to reduce maintenance costs. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Goal posts and the endzone scoreboard on the football field. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The football stadium has a capacity of more than 6,000 seats. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The field house is located under the stands in the football stadium. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The football locker room is located under the stadium in the field house. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Wellen Park High School football coach Sascha Hyer. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The Wellen Park High School football helmet. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The football stadium has a capacity of more than 6,000 seats. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) A “Liberty Bell” in one of the end zones, will be rung by students when they graduate. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The baseball field can be seen from the top of the football stadium. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) A youth baseball camp was using the school baseball field. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The baseball field surface is also artificial grass. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The dugout on the baseball field. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The softball field can be seen from the top of the football stadium. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The girls softball field. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The girls softball field. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The track surrounding the football field. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The discus cage for track and field events is located near the track and stadium. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The throwing circle for the shot put is located next to the track. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The runway for the javelin is located near the other field events. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang, Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) The school’s beach volleyball courts. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Basketball and volleyball courts will be used for physical education classes. Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Wellen Park High School athletic facilities go Texas-sized 1 of 42 Wellen Park High School is Sarasota County’s first new high school in 25 years. The school, located in North Port, will draw students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Recently DeWitt praised the far-right John Birch Society for hosting a "great class on the Constitution." The John Birch Society has a long, ugly history of promoting conspiracy theories, segregation, the Red Scare and Islamophobia. It remains on the Southern Poverty Law Center's Hatewatch list. While blaming the school district for being "$43 million in the red," DeWitt supports universal vouchers, which are directly to blame for the shortfall. Vouchers cost Florida public school districts $5 billion this past school year. In campaign Facebook posts, DeWitt invokes "God and country," and Sarasota being God's community. Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of DeWitt's personal faith, School Board members must respect the separation of church and state to ensure all feel welcome. District 1 candidate Jimmy Glover will do just that. Mr. Glover has years of experience volunteering in his community and mentoring young people, and he has 30 years of experience in customer service, teamwork and crisis management. He is committed to academic excellence for all our students.