1. Superintendent Switcheroo

In a blatant power play, Karen Rose led the charge in the controversial and widely criticized push for Superintendent Brennan Asplen’s resignation. This move, despite Asplen's commendable performance reviews, has been slammed as a strategic purge, undermining the stability of the school district and betraying public trust​ (WUSF)​.

2. Internal Warfare

Amidst personal scandals and public outcry, Rose demanded the resignation of fellow board member Bridget Ziegler. But once the scandal died down, Rose went back to supporting her closest ally on the School Board. This high-drama spectacle played out under Rose's circus tent, intensifying the board’s reputation for internal conflicts and political machinations that distract from its educational mission​ (Yahoo News)​​ (WGCU Public Media)​.

3. Open Association with Hate Groups

Karen further inflamed tensions with a personal appearance at The Hollow, a venue linked to far-right activities including connections with the Proud Boys, a group designated as a neo-nazi hate group by the SPLC. During her speech at The Hollow, Rose vehemently criticized federal oversight of education. Captured on video, her explicit declaration, "As far as I'm concerned, totally and completely highlight and delete the Federal Department of Education. It has no place," cements her clear alignment with radical hate groups that have no place setting education policy in Sarasota (SPLC) (Washington Post).

4. Gerrymandering the Big Top

With the audacity of a seasoned ringmaster, Rose proposed a sudden and suspect redistricting plan aimed at ousting her main competitor. Critics lambasted the move as a cynical ploy to manipulate electoral boundaries for personal gain, sparking accusations of anti-democratic tactics akin to rigging the game and wasting thousands of tax dollars without explanation​ (WSLR)​.

5. Financial Shenanigans with “The Prince of Dark Money”

The plot thickens with Rose's questionable alliance with Eric Robinson, who is a paid campaign staff member of Rose. He is a figure with a long history deeply embroiled in multiple financial and ethical controversies. His involvement in the school board’s finances, despite a sordid track record of legal entanglements, casts a long shadow over Rose’s judgment and the board’s integrity​ (Sarasota News Leader)​​ (Florida Politics)​.

6. Charter School Chaos

Karen Rose's endorsement of the Sarasota Classical Preparatory Academy, a for-profit charter school managed by Charter Schools USA, marks a continuation of her long standing preference for for-profit charter schools at the expense of public education. This decision, steeped in public protest, not only exemplifies a blatant prioritization of corporate profit over student welfare but also highlights the systematic defunding and undermining of Sarasota's public schools. With unrealistic enrollment projections and a problematic location, the project seems crafted more as a profit center for its operators than as a viable educational institution. This move has sparked fierce opposition, revealing deep community concerns about the erosion of educational integrity and local governance in favor of privatized gains. Rose’s actions contribute to a troubling trend where public funds are diverted to support questionable charter ventures, weakening the overall educational framework and community trust in public education​.​ She is not a champion for public education (Yahoo)​​ (WSLR)​​ (Pineapple Edu News)​​ (Support Our Schools)​​ (Your Observer)​.