Sally Hunt claimed this evening in her own words that she had resigned her Flagler County School Board seat, four months after her election. It was not necessarily true.
Hunt made the claim in a phone message to FlaglerLive at 5:05 p.m., prompted by an extensive public record request FlaglerLive had filed earlier in the day. She then refused to confirm it.
She did not answer repeated phone calls or texts about it until just over three hours later, when she texted, “busy night. I have not formally resigned.” Asked about the phone message, she texted: “There was miscommunication.”
There was no miscommunication.
Pressed to speak, to avoid further miscommunication, she wrote: “I have no comment at this time.”
Around the same time, a Democratic Party member texted FlaglerLive: “She’s gonna talk to a ‘couple of people’ before she makes a final decision.” Hunt, in another odd development during the evening, told others that she had sent her resignation to the governor by “snail mail,” only to then pull the letter from the mailbox.
Hunt’s claim, and her refusal to confirm it subsequently even as she spoke with members of the Democratic Club or community members about it this afternoon and evening, signaled a bizarre turn of events for a board member in office just four months. She has appeared increasingly conflicted by the glare she’s been attracting recently, glare only likely to intensify after the conduct she exhibited this evening.
Hunt has been driving the momentum possibly not to renew Superintendent Cathy Mittlestadt’s contract, causing blowback from her Democratic Party supporters. Some of those Democrats turned up at the last school board meeting earlier this week to voice their support for Mittlestadt, in veiled criticism of Hunt’s approach. Hunt drew one supporter: Jill Woolbright, who spoke approvingly of Hunt, whom she’d likened to a criminal during the campaign.
“She’s received lots of criticism from her party in terms of aligning with Christy Chong and Will Furry, and that that pressure has caused her to question whether or not she wants to continue to be a board member,” Courtney VandeBunte said, referring to two right-wing members elected with Hunt. VandeBunte ran with fellow-Democrat Hunt for a different school board seat last year. “People who have supported her regret supporting her.”
Vandebunte added: “I heard that resignation was a possibility, but it wasn’t confirmed.” (Within the party VandeBunte was lending her support to keep Hunt from resigning: “I feel very strongly about Sally completing her four-year term. Flagler desperately needs her leadership, and I would hate to see her resign,” she said.)
But there was no question that Hunt had said herself that she had resigned.
FlaglerLive’s editor was covering the swearing-in of two new city commissioners in Flagler Beach when Hunt called the news service’s desk line in person from her cell phone late this afternoon. She insisted she did not want to leave a voice mail (which suggested even then that her call may have been tactical). Speaking to FlaglerLive’s advertising director, Hunt said she had sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis resigning her seat. She said she had done so before a public record request was sent by FlaglerLive for her emails and other documents, perhaps to imply that she may not have to comply with it (she does).
The public record request was sent at 3:15 p.m. to the school board’s attorney, who handles all such requests and cc’d to Hunt, since it is a request for all her school business related email since Feb. 1, along with other documents about her visits to Rymfire Elementary and the frequency of her meetings with the superintendent.
Hunt was said by a Democratic Party member that she had been distressed by other public record requests filed earlier this week, tracing her contacts with Wadsworth Elementary Principal Paul Peacock, who is pursuing a grievance against Mittlestadt’s administration and nursing wounds from his demotion last summer. Hunt has been speaking with Peacock and other members of the community about replacing Mittlestadt with Dusty Sims, the former, well-liked principal at Flagler Palm Coast High School who was close with Peacock. Sims is working at the Department of Education.
When an elected board member resigns from a local government board, it is customary for that board member to send an email to the chief executive of the agency or to the board chair, not to the governor. Neither School Board Chair Cheryl Massaro (“I have nothing”) nor Superintendent Cathy Mittlestadt received communications to that effect from Hunt.
The fact that Hunt had not shared any such communication with either raises questions about her motives, if not her sincerity. But she was not answering questions Thursday evening–the very questions she had raised.
When told of the alleged resignation, Massaro said that if that were true, “to be honest with you, I think that she did not know what she was getting herself into, and I think it was difficult for her to manage her life and the businesses she has and the business of the school board. I don’t think she was quite prepared for all this. It surprises me it happened so quickly, but it is what it is.”
If Hunt were to resign, the governor would appoint her replacement, an appointment that could take weeks or months, but that may not be a mystery: DeSantis had endorsed Woolbright in that race. “He backed Jill the whole way, so Jill Woolbright might be back,” Massaro said.
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Bailey’s Mom says
I hope we as a community can support Sally and the other School Board Members as it has been a difficult 3 years for them, our Teachers/staff and students. Even now we have a small group continuously trying to ban books and our Governor trying to take & limit our rights & force us back to the 1950’s! Democrat or Republican, choose humanity!
Concerned Citizen says
I’m going to say this directly to all involved.
Please stop the infighting and bickering. You are wasting valuable time that could be dedicated to the future of our children. Either let the Superintendent do her job unmolested. Or fire her for cause and move on.
As a voter in this county I am sick of al of the elected officials that get into these self important rolls. Then create a hostile work environment. If you behaved like this in the public work force you would all be fired and rightly so.
To all voters.
Please remember this next election. And do better.
James says
Sally was elected by the people, not the Republican or Democrat parties. Her win was across party lines, fact. The School District is lagging in education performance metrics, so her “supporters” who support the same old mediocre results need to wake up. This isn’t politics, it’s the education of our kids.
She probably wasn’t ready for all the public record requests and attacks. But she’s a good person and shouldn’t be run off by the gossip crowd. Doing the records will show much beyond her talking to community stakeholder, like an informed elected official should do.
Heard the were some Colleen Conklin texts from a public records request floating around town. Where’s that “story?”
The dude says
Very bizarre, yet totally on-brand for Flagler Palm Coast.
Even the somewhat normals are batshit crazy.
Concerned Community Member says
WOW! When did schools become so political. I’m so glad my children are grown up. I would hate them to be around all of this. Schools and the school district are suppose to be there for the benefit and education of our children. Where has that concept gone to ?
Tired of it says
The “mediocre” results happened under the old board, dominated by Mc Donald and Woolbright. And it is is simple, she can show where the Superintendent has failed, specifically, and put the issue to rest. If the results were mediocre, surely the principals have some of the responsibility…including Sally’s pet principal.
Robert Joseph Fortier says
Stop…you’re making to much sense.
Ridiculous town says
If she quits and we get Jill, I place it squarely on the Democratic Party and news outlet with that ridiculous public records request. What a witch hunt.
Nick the Dogfather says
Let me tell y’all , I was in full support of Sally Hunt and spent hours and days getting to know her. She made a promise to me she will leave politics out of her decision and always do right by the children. She has kept her promise and I have so much love and respect for her. Now today the political hacks are attacking her. This is my opinion and I feel if not all of you want to support her or not I will and continue too. Respect her because she actually has and continues to keep her promise. We may not agree politically but school board should never be political
Godspeed
Nicholas S DeSantis
Concerned Community Member says
Yes, I know! But common sense doesn’t exists today like in the times before. There are just so few of us that have it today.
Me says
The Flagler County School Board Drama continues. For women that are adults they act worse then any young child they are suppose to be working for. Enough is enough if they all can’t get a long where is Mr. Wonderful DeSantis not putting a stop to this madness. He puts his nose in everything else.
James says
“… When an elected board member resigns from a local government board, it is customary for that board member to send an email to the chief executive of the agency or to the board chair, not to the governor. …”
Yes, my thoughts exactly. When I began to read this article I was taken aback by the possibility that she was resigning to the governor (???)… I thought it highly odd. Thanks for reaffirming that it would indeed be highly unusual. Which raises the question why? And why would Woolbright’s name EVER come up again in a discussion about ANYTHING to do with the Flagler County public school board?
“… Principal Paul Peacock …”
Not familiar with Principal Peacock’s story, but perhaps Hunt should take anything said to her from where it comes (this fellow apparently has a real ongoing legal issue with the county… and Mittlestadt).
Just my opinion.
Pogo says
@Right (pun intended) in front us
When did this become so political, why can’t the adults be adults, blah, blah, blah. The comment section becomes a meeting room where the air conditioner can’t keep up.
All this has unfolded in my one lifetime. Born 1953. In my childhood: the last new Woolworths and G.C. Murphy built in this area (complete with “lunch counters” White and Colored bathrooms — and water fountains) were built and opened, and so on and so forth.
“…and so on and so forth…” Pogo, what the hell are you talking about?
Us. Us is what I’m talking about. I’m talking about me, and I’m talking about, and to, the people who were right there with me going in and out of those stores. So on and so forth is — what happened since.
We all have our own version of what happened since: mostly what we prefer — instead of everything.
Everything. Everything is impossible. So we have to make do with something.
Here is my something. Since those stores opened, those companies went from being a child’s permanent object, to out of business and forgotten. Some other things happened: the works of Ayn Rand in my classmates’ living rooms (actually read, or not) were like litter after a car race. BTW, dogs used to race right next door to the cars. Why did that go away? You know. My classmates (you), like their parents, well, many of you, became something neither fish nor fowl: Nazi Party, NRA Life Member, Green Party, Libertarian Party, etc. Some by dent of learning and becoming. But most because they bought something sold, or all the other superficial reasons people imitate people. The most convenient Party of all? No party.
So get there already! Okay. Racist Dixiecrat segregationists (future Republicans), and Libertarians (the inventors of vouchers, start with school boards, etc., anarchists in business jets, in a hurry, that really just bought the GOP, with slush funds from petty cash, straw man non-profits, while claiming a goddamn tax deduction too) raped Ike’s and Bob Dole’s Party — the mother of the bastard running Florida for the past 25 years.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Dixiecrats
And here we all are. That air conditioner sounds like it could quit any moment now.
James says
Well, if I recall correctly, Paul Renner did say something in one of his campaign ads to the effect that the space coast was a “special place.”
And perhaps he’s right.
Just an observation.
Leila says
Here we in a beautiful and magnificent community attacking one another when we should be supporting one another. Why have these disagreements become so heated? Yes, many disagree. Please allow them that right.
None of these elections have any business being partisan. People run for this board because they want to serve and we need to be supportive. Sally isn’t a professional politician. That isn’t why she ran. Everybody, let’s teach our children to support one another in this life, no matter what your politics. Don’t judge others, support them. That’s the lesson we need to be teaching our children.
Leila says
@ Nick,
Amen!
Free Florida says
Let me break it down for you fellas- when allegations are made, public records are requested to affirm or disaffirm those allegations. Politicians usually wait for those allegations to be made formally before resigning unless they are really concerned about what will come out or are really dumb. Either way, flush the toilet and move on.
Eileen says
Yes double Amen! The political hacks are BRUTAL!
Pinelake79 says
Replace with Dustin Sims…who has a great job with the state DOE. Why would he want to come back to Flagler County and all of its’ headaches. Trevor Tucker would be a better fit…he knows the system and how it works!
Bider says
“… When an elected board member resigns from a local government board, it is customary for that board member to send an email to the chief executive of the agency or to the board chair, not to the governor. …”
Fact check:
The 2022 Florida Statutes CHAPTER 114 – VACATING OFFICE
114.01 States resignation must be accepted by the Governor.
114.04 States vacancies will be filled by the Governor’s appointment.
D. Wise says
When you run for office of any kind understand you can’t be thin skinned or wishy washy. Having the credentials or qualifications aren’t the end all but in this case what is best for the education and benefits of the students of Flagler. Our children have to be able to survive in the world outside of Flagler County, FL, the state of FL, the USA and the whole world.
FlaglerLive says
The statute refers to state offices, such as cabinet officers, not county offices, who must submit their resignation to the governor. The governor would appoint replacements to local offices, but it isn’t his role to accept those resignations.
James says
Nevertheless, it sounds like the governor will indeed have the right to appoint a replacement… how very interesting.
As the other James had noted… “Sally was elected by the people, not the Republican or Democrat parties. Her win was across party lines, fact.”
So much for whatever passed for democracy in Florida.
Just my opinion.
James says
“… The School District is lagging in education performance metrics, so her “supporters” who support the same old mediocre results need to wake up. This isn’t politics, it’s the education of our kids. …”
And what of the election of Furry? Was his election to the school board about performance metrics?
By the way, I’m not familiar with Mittlestadt’s personal history… or the performance metrics of the county schools before or after her hire… I’m not trying to defend her. Just wanting to point out that one must also take into account that we have lived through (and continue to live through) some very interesting times. And according to many accounts, performance metrics are down all over the country due to many factors… yes, including the disruptions due to the Covid pandemic. So yes, it does seem to be about some kind of politics.
Just my opinion.
Viviane LindeOlsson says
As an officer of the Palm Coast Democratic Club I take offense that our Club was mentioned as trying to force a School Board Member to change her opinion. That bulling person is NOT representing the club.
Algernon says
I too spent time getting to know and appreciate Sally Hunt. Thanks for your letter Nick the Dogfather. I will continue to support her as well. I don’t understand the current situation, but I trust her judgement in the long run.
Over it says
I would personally like to see Flagler allow a superintendent to do their job. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so let’s allow our superintendent the time she needs to do her job.
I truely appreciate how through out all of the chaios she has kept a level head (left politics out) and hasnt fed into the drama. Now if we could just give her the support (school board) she needs to continue to do the job everyone is supposedly there for, “our childrens educations”