Florida Education Department proposes funding cuts over school board's handling of contentious meeting

The Florida Department of Education's commissioner has proposed withholding funding equivalent to the salaries of all Alachua County school board members, citing their handling of a contentious public comment session on July 31. During the meeting, parent Jeremy Clepper publicly criticized Board Chair Sarah Rockwell for her social media remarks mourning the death of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, a supporter of Donald Trump, who passed away from a heart attack. Rockwell had posted on Facebook comments that appeared dismissive of Hogan's death, prompting criticism from attendees. Although she later apologized, her comments sparked outrage among parents and community members. Clepper accused her of celebrating the death of "MAGA" supporters and publicly condemned her, leading to a tense exchange. As Clepper was being escorted out by security, a disagreement arose over whether he should be removed, with some attendees supporting his ejection and others arguing against it. The incident drew the attention of state education officials, with Commissioner Kamoutsas criticizing the board's handling of free speech and expressing concern that the parent’s First Amendment rights were viol...