Sarasota County Schools

On "Live & Local," we catch up on a school district making difficult financial decisions, an important legislative vote – and non-vote – along with some unknowns and … ahem … unmentionables.

High school economics teacher Jason Means takes the reins of the Sarasota Classified Teachers Association at a tough financial time for the district.

The Sarasota County School Board and two county taxpayers have sued Tax Collector Mike Moran, alleging his office unlawfully diverted more than $2 million from a voter-approved school tax after changing a decades-old arrangement over who pays collection fees.

The "Florida Matters Live & Local" staff is focusing on WUSF’s Spring Fund Drive, so it’s a great time to give another listen to some of our favorite interviews.

Superintendent Terry Connor said he is hopeful that most teachers will be able to find a position in the county next school year, as some retire and others move out of the area.

The cuts mirror those at school districts across Florida, which have slashed programming and even closed schools amid mounting budget pressures.

The policy would restrict protests on school property, or during the school day, by staff and students.

The pieces were critical of the school board, but Pine View School students and First Amendment advocates disagreed they showed bias. Weeks after the paper's publication, the stories will appear online.

The resolution, approved despite hours of emotional public opposition, does not spell out what documentation agents would need to enter schools, whether judicial warrants would be required for non-public areas, or who would make those decisions.

The proposal doesn't change district policy, but simply reaffirms the district's compliance with law enforcement, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Academica, which operates charters, says on its website that it plans to open only a "handful" of schools in 2027-28 and will rescind notices for other locations after it determines those co-locations.

Pinellas and Sarasota counties earned A’s, while Polk was the only district to improve its grade. Factors used to determine grades include state testing in English, math, science and social studies and grad rates.