Top row from left, Allen Zeman and Jeff Holness. Bottom row from left, Maura Bulman and Rebecca Thompson
Broward School Board Member Allen Zeman’s maneuvering to be board chairman will throw two new board members into proverbial the fire, just hours after they officially take office Tuesday, multiple sources tell REDBROWARD. According to tradition, current Board Vice Chair Debbi Hixon would become the new chair during an organizational meeting Tuesday afternoon. But Zeman is bucking tradition by actively campaigning for the chairmanship.
According to multiple Board sources, (REDBROWARD is granting their requests for anonymity so they may freely discuss the matter) Zeman expects the support of fellow Board member Jeff Holness as well as the support of the two board members—Rebecca Thompson and Maura Bulman.
Until last summer, Rebecca Thompson was Zeman’s aide.
Including his own vote, Zeman would have four of the nine votes. He needs five votes to become chairman.
Sources say Hixon has the support of Board Members Lori Alhadeff, Sarah Leonardi and Nora Rupert.
If Hixon votes for herself, the race for chair is tied four-four.
That means the deciding vote comes down to Republican Brenda Fam.
Some insiders are appalled that Zeman would drag new board members into a public feud on their first day in office. Most insiders believe Debbi Hixon is well-liked and handles board meetings without problems.
These same insiders believe Zeman is seeking the title and a spotlight that comes with the position. Multiple sources have repeatedly told REDBROWARD that Zeman seeks higher office-even gubernatorial aspirations.
Is Zeman willing to divide the new board over his political aspirations?
Can the Board recover from such an ugly fight on day one?
Who will Brenda Fam support?
REDBROWARD will ask Zeman for answers but he stopped responding to us years ago.
Days after REDBROWARD revealed the Broward Teachers Union (BTU) failed to achieve automatic union certification with less than sixty percent of dues paying membership, President Anna Fusco has finally addressed the matter. On Monday, BTU promised a forthcoming coming email from Fusco would “clear up the fake news” about the decertification process. During a School Board workshop on Tuesday, David Azzarito, the District’s Chief People Person, confirmed BTU (and its Units) failed to be automatically certified.
So much for “fake news.”
On Wednesday, Fusco sent an email to teachers. In the email, Fusco attacked School Board Members Torey Alston and Brenda Fam by name.
Fusco wrote, “Torey Alston, along with anti-worker Board Member Brenda Fam, is spreading misinformation about the BTU and the upcoming PERC elections. We are not surprised that these two continue to attack educators and support staff.”
Neither Alston nor Fam plays any role in the union certification process. By Florida law, the certification and recertification processes are done by the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC).
Here is Anna Fusco’s entire email:
As many of you may have heard, fresh off of his resounding defeat, Torey Alston, along with anti-worker Board Member Brenda Fam, is spreading misinformation about the BTU and the upcoming PERC elections. We are not surprised that these two continue to attack educators and support staff.
These are the same people who:
• Voted against your salary increases and later, even tried to take : Contrue to tree tooth and nay:
Voted against referendum money, and to deny salary increases to
Now, they want you to leave the only union that fought AGAINST all of this. Hmm, I wonder why they want to get rid of the BTU….
It is true that under anti-union legislation passed in 2023, certain unions representing public works in Florida must report their membership rate on a yearly basis, and if their membership is below a super-majority of 60%, they must petition for an election with the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC).
PERC is processing the BU’s petitions and elections will soon be hold.
No determination has yet been made about whether those elections will be conducted on-site or by mail ballots.
But let’s be clear – the BTU has not been decertified.
BTU remains the certified bargaining representative of all four units – Education Professionals (EP), Education Support Professionals (ESP), and Technical Support Professionals (TSP), supervisory and non-supervisory personnel.
Because we are united, have contracts, and are represented by the BTU, management cannot unilaterally change benefits, or other terms and conditions employment.
Your contracts remain in full force and effect and all of your rights and benefits remain secure.
It’s undeniable that anti-union politicians are working hard to silence our voices, but we will not allow them to succeed. Now, more than ever, we must stand united and ensure that our union remains strong by boosting our membership. Our strength lies in our numbers, and by standing together, we protect our careers, our contracts, and the future of our profession.
Voting to keep BTU as our bargaining representative is not just a choice; it’s a necessity to safeguard everything we’ve fought for.
A “yes” vote keeps BTU strong, while a “no” vote doesn’t just weaken us—it removes the ability for ANY union to represent us.
A “no” vote means no other union, leaving us all unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation. We cannot, and will not, allow teachers to become ununionized and stripped of their collective power.
This is our moment to rally our colleagues, encourage them to join BTU, and show that we are an unbreakable force. Together, our voice is powerful, and our unity is our greatest strength!
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