Just when you thought the University of South Florida Polytechnic debate had quieted down...

A USF Poly board member who had spoken out in support of splitting the campus away from the USF mothership has resigned from the board, claiming that USF's leadership is trying to dismantle independence efforts.

Mark Kaylor wrote in a letter to USF President Judy Genshaft that although Genshaft and interim USF Poly chancellor David Touchton have vowed to keep the campus on a path toward separation as prescribed by the Florida Board of Governors, it has become clear to him that they are actually trying to "scuttle" that mission, the Ledger, of Lakeland, reported.

"I am very saddened that you do not see the great leadership opportunity in building an independent 12th university, polytechnic," Kaylor wrote.

Kaylor took sides early in the split debate, joining USF Poly's former chancellor Marshall Goodman and Florida Sen. JD Alexander in September for a presentation to the Board of Governors introducing the idea. 

He wasn't the only campus board member who weighed in.

The chair of USF Poly's campus board, Gene Engle, also a member of USF's Board of Trustees, later came out against a split. He was joined by Genshaft, the rest of the Board of Trustees, faculty, students and hundreds of community members. Since the Board of Governors decided in November to allow USF Poly to break away, Engle and the rest of that camp have joined Genshaft in her pledge of cooperation.