WUFT | News and public media for north central Florida
Florida education board finds Alachua County schools violated parent’s free speech, orders yearlong monitoring
By Sara-James Ranta
August 21, 2025 at 4:52 AM EDT
St. Augustine, Fla. – The State Board of Education ruled Wednesday that the Alachua County School Board violated a parent’s First Amendment rights at its July 31 meeting, escalating a weeks-long clash between state officials and the district’s chair.
As a result of the decision, the district will be monitored by the state for the entire 2025-26 school year, where it must update their public comment policy to maintain transparency and train board members on free speech and First Amendment protection.
If the state board sees ACPS isn't in compliance during its monitoring period, the state would impose “automatic sanctions” on the ACSB, including withholding “an amount equal to” all board member salaries. The ACSB would also be required to send weekly reports to the legislature detailing how it’s maintaining compliance.
The ruling stems from a heated July 31 school board meeting where a parent spoke against a controversial Facebook comment by ACSB Chair Sarah Rockwell regarding the death of celebrity pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan. Her comments received national attention.
“Oh, did Hulk die? I didn’t even know. Good. One less MAGA in the world,” Rockwell wrote in the deleted Facebook post.
Jeremy Clepper, 36, of Jonesville, was the parent at the center of the controversy. During his comments at the July 31 ACSB meeting, he called Rockwell a “disgusting, vile human being.” Clepper spoke for the full two minutes he was allotted during his comment period. ACSB vice-chair Tina Certain warned the crowd not to interrupt him when attendees began speaking over him.
Clepper walked down the rows and approached the dais, where he stood in front of board members. The board called for a recess as audience members shouted. After a short interaction with law enforcement, Clepper left the meeting on his own accord.
Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas called Rockwell’s behavior “inexcusable” in a letter Aug. 1.
<i>Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas listens during a State Board of Education meeting in St. Augustine on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Sara-James Ranta/WUFT News)</i> (2007x1482, AR: 1.354251012145749)
“You should be ashamed of your failure as a board member, let alone the board chair,” Kamoutsas wrote. “I think it’s time for some reflection on whether you are properly equipped to serve.”
Rockwell was not chairing the July 31 board meeting. That meeting was led by Tina Certain. At the request of the letter, Rockwell and other ACPS members attended the state board meeting Aug. 20.
During Wednesday’s meeting, the state board of education showed videos of what it deemed multiple examples of violations of free speech. Kamoutsas said the ACSB “specifically and maliciously targeted a conservative viewpoint.”
Rockwell and Certain were then allowed to address the state board.
Rockwell, who attended the meeting via Zoom due to health issues, said the board updated their public comment policy to better align with new court precedent, not as a response to the July meeting. She also mentioned the findings of an independent, third-party investigator retained by the district.
In that report, the investigator found “no evidence” suggesting any board member took adverse action against those expressing conservative viewpoints.
Certain, who addressed the board in-person, reassured the state board she followed state law and allowed him to speak.
“He was not silenced,” Certain said. “He was not removed during or immediately after his comments. I worked very hard to maintain the order during the meeting.”
The state board questioned ACSB’s criteria for defining disruption, policy changes and accountability for controversial actions.
Throughout the questioning, audience members scoffed and shouted, “where is the context” and “show the full video.”
State Board member MaryLynn Magar asked if the board has specific criteria to determine a disruption. Certain reassured it was detailed in board policy.
“My seven years on the board, that is the first time I've experienced something like that,” Certain said. “Where I felt the need to involve law enforcement in a situation to maintain order.”
Magar asked Rockwell if she’d like to say anything to parents that disagreed with her post on X but were afraid to speak after the outburst. Rockwell stated she’s already made two public apologies, and that she “won’t be speaking to that again.”
“All of the parents who came to speak that night were given the opportunity to speak,” Rockwell said. “The board was not informed that it [the eruption of the audience] had happened when we returned to the room, I had no idea until the following day.”
Magar then asked Rockwell if she’s personally apologized to Clepper.
“I have not personally apologized to him because I did not remove him,” Rockwell said.
State board vice-chair Esther Byrd asked if Certain would’ve done anything differently during the July meeting. Certain said she would’ve made it clearer to the audience that there would be no disruptions allowed.
State board member Kelly Garcia asked Rockwell how she responds to community members asking for her to step down.
“I am a duly elected representative in my county,” Rockwell said. “I won my election by an overwhelming majority.”
Florida school board races are traditionally nonpartisan positions. Amendment 1, which would have made Florida school board elections partisan, did not pass in the 2024 election.
State board member Daniel Foganholi asked Certain if Clepper would’ve been removed if the audience was silent during his comments.
“When I asked for assistance from law enforcement, it had nothing to do with what was spoken, it had everything to do with the tenor of the room,” Certain said.
Board member Collins said Clepper was “punished” for his comments, and asked Rockwell if her child in her district would get an equal “shake” in her leadership.
“Nothing I say here is going to change your opinion about what my comment was,” Rockwell said. “But I never, ever, wished anyone dead. That comment was made on my personal page, not in my professional capacity.”
The questions were followed by a public comment period, which included many Alachua County citizens. Over 20 people spoke, with less than five in dissent of the ACSB.
Board member Thomas Vu said he believed Clepper was afforded “every possible grace.”
State board Chair Ryan Petty responded to Vu, saying his comments during the July meeting were "inflammatory."
Sydney Gordon, of Gainesville, urged the state body to take no action against the ACSB.
“Please do not weaponize this process against a much-needed and valued educator and duly elected official,” Gordon said.
Madeline Austin, 75, of Gainesville, said she attended the July ACSB meeting, sitting behind Clepper. She said she felt afraid of him.
“His anger was oozing,” Austin said. “After he spoke, he became really volatile and really scary.”
Lawrence Certain, a Gainesville resident and retired police officer, said Clepper’s comments and demeanor were threatening.
“Although he was allowed to stay there, he chose to leave on his own,” he said.
Jane Mcnulty, 67, of Gainesville, said free speech applies to all. She mentioned comments Kamoutsas made to Clepper on X.
After the July meeting, Clepper took to social media to voice his concerns. After Kamoutsas posted his Aug. 1 letter to Rockwell on X, he replied to Clepper’s repost of the letter with the comment, “We’ve got your back, brother.”
Newberry Mayor and leader of Alachua County Republican Party Tim Marden spoke in dissent of Rockwell.
The Alachua County Republican Party called for Rockwell’s resignation in a series of Facebook posts with the hashtag #resignrockwell.
“The reason there are not more conservatives in that room is because of the toxic environment that has been created,” Marden said. “I don’t believe sanctions are enough.”
Before Kamoutsas made his recommendation, he commented on the tension of the room during public comment.
“When there were speakers of opposing views, the crowd acted very similarly, though much more restrained, as they did in the Alachua County school board that night,” he said. “It’s clearly a culture, it’s a toxic culture and it needs to change.”
Peggy Bowie, 76, of Gainesville, said the decision was a “slap in the face.”
“I feel like this board already had their mind made up before they even showed up,” Bowie said. “It didn’t really matter what anybody said.”
Jeremy Clepper said the decision was “great” and would like to see ACPS board members step down or be fired.
As a result of the decision, the district will be monitored by the state for the entire 2025-26 school year, where it must update their public comment policy to maintain transparency and train board members on free speech and First Amendment protection.
If the state board sees ACPS isn't in compliance during its monitoring period, the state would impose “automatic sanctions” on the ACSB, including withholding “an amount equal to” all board member salaries. The ACSB would also be required to send weekly reports to the legislature detailing how it’s maintaining compliance.
The ruling stems from a heated July 31 school board meeting where a parent spoke against a controversial Facebook comment by ACSB Chair Sarah Rockwell regarding the death of celebrity pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan. Her comments received national attention.
“Oh, did Hulk die? I didn’t even know. Good. One less MAGA in the world,” Rockwell wrote in the deleted Facebook post.
Jeremy Clepper, 36, of Jonesville, was the parent at the center of the controversy. During his comments at the July 31 ACSB meeting, he called Rockwell a “disgusting, vile human being.” Clepper spoke for the full two minutes he was allotted during his comment period. ACSB vice-chair Tina Certain warned the crowd not to interrupt him when attendees began speaking over him.
Clepper walked down the rows and approached the dais, where he stood in front of board members. The board called for a recess as audience members shouted. After a short interaction with law enforcement, Clepper left the meeting on his own accord.
Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas called Rockwell’s behavior “inexcusable” in a letter Aug. 1.
<i>Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas listens during a State Board of Education meeting in St. Augustine on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Sara-James Ranta/WUFT News)</i> (2007x1482, AR: 1.354251012145749)
“You should be ashamed of your failure as a board member, let alone the board chair,” Kamoutsas wrote. “I think it’s time for some reflection on whether you are properly equipped to serve.”
Rockwell was not chairing the July 31 board meeting. That meeting was led by Tina Certain. At the request of the letter, Rockwell and other ACPS members attended the state board meeting Aug. 20.
During Wednesday’s meeting, the state board of education showed videos of what it deemed multiple examples of violations of free speech. Kamoutsas said the ACSB “specifically and maliciously targeted a conservative viewpoint.”
Rockwell and Certain were then allowed to address the state board.
Rockwell, who attended the meeting via Zoom due to health issues, said the board updated their public comment policy to better align with new court precedent, not as a response to the July meeting. She also mentioned the findings of an independent, third-party investigator retained by the district.
In that report, the investigator found “no evidence” suggesting any board member took adverse action against those expressing conservative viewpoints.
Certain, who addressed the board in-person, reassured the state board she followed state law and allowed him to speak.
“He was not silenced,” Certain said. “He was not removed during or immediately after his comments. I worked very hard to maintain the order during the meeting.”
The state board questioned ACSB’s criteria for defining disruption, policy changes and accountability for controversial actions.
Throughout the questioning, audience members scoffed and shouted, “where is the context” and “show the full video.”
State Board member MaryLynn Magar asked if the board has specific criteria to determine a disruption. Certain reassured it was detailed in board policy.
“My seven years on the board, that is the first time I've experienced something like that,” Certain said. “Where I felt the need to involve law enforcement in a situation to maintain order.”
Magar asked Rockwell if she’d like to say anything to parents that disagreed with her post on X but were afraid to speak after the outburst. Rockwell stated she’s already made two public apologies, and that she “won’t be speaking to that again.”
“All of the parents who came to speak that night were given the opportunity to speak,” Rockwell said. “The board was not informed that it [the eruption of the audience] had happened when we returned to the room, I had no idea until the following day.”
Magar then asked Rockwell if she’s personally apologized to Clepper.
“I have not personally apologized to him because I did not remove him,” Rockwell said.
State board vice-chair Esther Byrd asked if Certain would’ve done anything differently during the July meeting. Certain said she would’ve made it clearer to the audience that there would be no disruptions allowed.
State board member Kelly Garcia asked Rockwell how she responds to community members asking for her to step down.
“I am a duly elected representative in my county,” Rockwell said. “I won my election by an overwhelming majority.”
Florida school board races are traditionally nonpartisan positions. Amendment 1, which would have made Florida school board elections partisan, did not pass in the 2024 election.
State board member Daniel Foganholi asked Certain if Clepper would’ve been removed if the audience was silent during his comments.
“When I asked for assistance from law enforcement, it had nothing to do with what was spoken, it had everything to do with the tenor of the room,” Certain said.
Board member Collins said Clepper was “punished” for his comments, and asked Rockwell if her child in her district would get an equal “shake” in her leadership.
“Nothing I say here is going to change your opinion about what my comment was,” Rockwell said. “But I never, ever, wished anyone dead. That comment was made on my personal page, not in my professional capacity.”
The questions were followed by a public comment period, which included many Alachua County citizens. Over 20 people spoke, with less than five in dissent of the ACSB.
Board member Thomas Vu said he believed Clepper was afforded “every possible grace.”
State board Chair Ryan Petty responded to Vu, saying his comments during the July meeting were "inflammatory."
Sydney Gordon, of Gainesville, urged the state body to take no action against the ACSB.
“Please do not weaponize this process against a much-needed and valued educator and duly elected official,” Gordon said.
Madeline Austin, 75, of Gainesville, said she attended the July ACSB meeting, sitting behind Clepper. She said she felt afraid of him.
“His anger was oozing,” Austin said. “After he spoke, he became really volatile and really scary.”
Lawrence Certain, a Gainesville resident and retired police officer, said Clepper’s comments and demeanor were threatening.
“Although he was allowed to stay there, he chose to leave on his own,” he said.
Jane Mcnulty, 67, of Gainesville, said free speech applies to all. She mentioned comments Kamoutsas made to Clepper on X.
After the July meeting, Clepper took to social media to voice his concerns. After Kamoutsas posted his Aug. 1 letter to Rockwell on X, he replied to Clepper’s repost of the letter with the comment, “We’ve got your back, brother.”
Newberry Mayor and leader of Alachua County Republican Party Tim Marden spoke in dissent of Rockwell.
The Alachua County Republican Party called for Rockwell’s resignation in a series of Facebook posts with the hashtag #resignrockwell.
“The reason there are not more conservatives in that room is because of the toxic environment that has been created,” Marden said. “I don’t believe sanctions are enough.”
Before Kamoutsas made his recommendation, he commented on the tension of the room during public comment.
“When there were speakers of opposing views, the crowd acted very similarly, though much more restrained, as they did in the Alachua County school board that night,” he said. “It’s clearly a culture, it’s a toxic culture and it needs to change.”
Peggy Bowie, 76, of Gainesville, said the decision was a “slap in the face.”
“I feel like this board already had their mind made up before they even showed up,” Bowie said. “It didn’t really matter what anybody said.”
Jeremy Clepper said the decision was “great” and would like to see ACPS board members step down or be fired.