Dr. Brennan Asplund sworn in as St. Johns superintendent; board honors retirees, cites rising school grades

The St. Johns County School Board on an unspecified date swore in Dr. Brennan Asplund as the district's new superintendent and used the meeting to recognize retiring employees and highlight gains in school performance.

Dr. Linda Thompson, who introduced the board's Character Counts presentation, said parents are the “foundation of teaching character” and listed the district pillars — “trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.” She added, “ responsibility must be my favorite pillar because we, the school system, has a responsibility to those parents every day.”

Dr. Asplund, sworn in by Judge John Alexander, thanked the board and the community and introduced family members present. He told the board he was “privileged and honored” to lead the district and said he was “looking forward to working with everybody in this role, and especially the community and parents.”

The board recognized 81 retiring employees whose combined service to the district totaled more than 1,500 years, and staff read the names of attendees to be honored, including teachers, custodians, paraprofessionals and administrators. The board asked that those present come forward for group photos.

Superintendent Asplund and Dr. Thompson highlighted the district's school grades. Asplund and staff reported 38 A-rated schools and eight B-rated schools, with no C, D or F schools. Administrators and the superintendent described district-level point increases: the district moved 19 points overall; St. Augustine High School rose 62 points; Otis Mason rose 56 points; Murray rose 32 points; Ocean Palms rose 77 points; Timberlin Creek rose 83 points; and several other schools recorded double-digit increases.

Board members praised teachers, staff and support employees. Board Chair Coleman said choosing a superintendent was difficult because “your district is always setting the bar.” Trustees emphasized the team effort across bus drivers, custodians, food-service workers, teachers and administrators.

During public comment Major Matthew Weber, commanding officer of the Marine Corps recruiting station covering northern Florida and southern Georgia, told the board that in the past year 16 students from St. Johns County joined the Marine Corps and that the Marine Corps had awarded $720,000 in NROTC scholarships to St. Johns students as part of $4.7 million awarded regionally over three years.

The board approved routine procedural items earlier in the meeting, including the regular agenda and consent agenda. Several board members urged continued collaboration between home and school and thanked retiring staff for their service.

The board scheduled a short recess after the recognition segment and then continued with the day's business.