[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299737,"mediaKeyId","2495619-329a4eebf98a97c032ac87ebd16525db","parentId",2495619,"title","Sarasota schools report majority of state safety inspections clear; staff outline proposed state rule changes and training updates","audioSeconds",288,"startMs",632000,"endMs",920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495619-329a4eebf98a97c032ac87ebd16525db&start=632&end=920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495619-329a4eebf98a97c032ac87ebd16525db/thumbnail_632000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299737/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Sarasota-schools-report-majority-of-state-safety-inspections-clear-staff-outline-proposed-state-rule-changes-and-training-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299737-4813b0e0a19949ebd31b9ca891ddc782/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201171&Signature=B9bk0YRtGS6if8Uuh0Fwm1tJHz07w3yp6h2Lkk7LcJPNvqQFkscIUOYIsI5NxcUSc8lnWWTsWVEo-KqlnbquUgHlTADzl4p4ZTP1b~2ucZL7TfNJuw-s3XvDySUlYxaLeuHyhhQn6aadqeikLHy~JkZbNK~TKcOyGXxXJdPNhRL~huwKdymsVpKlzDsyT4zAE3nw6N2q0vb2uMcU3wQOZyFLu4VXoodf2WDdWMX309Pgn~55HuWiu7OFflV962r3dIe413eEFn2Ff0Lp~H~2UUHyfAEBhjckzTr9WKoN39Snisx6jghLMcqTJuqoIFKdcw4RncwETcOKI4-HvSTIuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sarasota County School Board, FL","date","2025-03-04T17:50:31Z","article","Chief Sean O'Keefe, Safety and Security, told the Sarasota County School Board on March 4 that district and state safety inspections are largely favorable and that the district has taken steps to address certification and paperwork gaps ahead of state reviews.

The report to the board said the Florida Department of Education Office of Safe Schools inspects every public and charter school once every three years and that the district must file findings in the Florida Safe Schools assessment tool. “We had 79% of the schools that we've had inspected so far make it through without any violations or only minor paperwork violations,” O'Keefe said. He added that 56% of schools inspected to date had no violations at all.

Why it matters: The briefing traces compliance to state safety rules and outlines new or pending state-level changes that could affect campus access, personnel certification and parent notification. The district also described operational changes — increased security staffing, expanded training and a fingerprinting requirement — that will affect personnel and school operations.

District inspections and staffing details
The district said it has completed all 57 required district compliance visits and worked directly with school administrators and school resource officers to correct deficiencies before state inspections. Michael Sanagata (district threat management coordinator) and Cindy Weitzel were cited as staff who helped distribute required certifications to schools.

O'Keefe said the state inspected 14 schools during the current quarter; nine of those had no deficiencies. The district reported interviews scheduled to fill two day-shift security vacancies and one night-shift vacancy in the security-aid program, which the district took over in July 2023.

Training and operational changes
District staff described expanded training for school security personnel emphasizing de-escalation, situational awareness and an understanding of state and district policy. The district also noted use of safety officers ‘‘as eyes’’ for administrators during after-hours activities and for identifying potential House Bill 1473 compliance issues.

Proposed state and rule changes
District staff briefed the board on multiple legislative proposals under consideration in Tallahassee. They described House Bill 1403 as creating a limited exemption window that would require compliance with House Bill 1473 from 30 minutes before school until 30 minutes after school, while allowing some campus gates and common areas to be unlocked during specified non-instructional times. The presentation characterized Senate Bill 1470 as similar but giving districts and the Office of Safe Schools greater discretion to define supervision hours and a state-led exemption list for certain career and technical education spaces.

Staff also discussed a rule referenced as 6A‑1.118 that would require certification that parents have been trained on FortifyFL when they acknowledge the student code of conduct; district staff said they will work with IT and HR to add the acknowledgment into the district's student information system.

Fingerprinting and reunification planning
The district said FDLE-style fingerprinting requirements will require district personnel to be re-fingerprinted over a three-year cycle and that the fingerprint office is scheduling school-site visits to make the process convenient for staff. Staff also said they have worked with law enforcement and fire partners on reunification procedures and have engaged families from Parkland in staff training.

Acknowledgments and next steps
Superintendent Conner and board members thanked safety staff for the work. The district noted the state-required inspection report will be presented to the board for approval at the board meeting on March 11 (no board action occurred at the March 4 work session). No formal motions or votes were taken during the briefing.

Ending: The board did not take action at the work session; staff said the inspection report will be on the March 11 agenda for formal approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SCS | Board Work Session - March 4, 2025 1:00 pm","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Sean O'Keefe, Safety and Security, told the Sarasota County School Board on March 4 that district and state safety inspections are largely favorable and that the district has taken steps to address certification and paperwork gaps ahead of state reviews.","taxTitle","Sarasota, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14672,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299731,"District outlines strategic-plan communications gains: website overhaul, apps and marketing credited with rising engagement",2353,3404000,5757000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495619-329a4eebf98a97c032ac87ebd16525db&start=3404&end=5757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495619-329a4eebf98a97c032ac87ebd16525db/thumbnail_3404000.jpg","/articles/6299731/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/District-outlines-strategic-plan-communications-gains-website-overhaul-apps-and-marketing-credited-with-rising-engagement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299731-6de5a87f57300d6c37fbdb04ef3c9243/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201171&Signature=mYZ6WOObtXJowkJBBTTPlkcfAWRg1WKvzMqobqWLQYf2ihbscVII7SwLyMuc3Q-1-G20X-Oae40hbgXhRCpy1xrwHoPbCJCZhGZGEgXyE1rrA0LTw~bZw82cEbjfIsVJN2RbYO9alyATpLFAGNrOa1bjA~YrfNqTcU12xNjVUEj3tDKgoQmB9r1yMPtdqgvIUtjHOWCQHSl4gNtM8K4EaRzre3sIwo-FvRtRfRRGW8NJJ2za5Nb9HeLlpfemnOFDqP4neI1vsAM0C9ic3i~Gae1twZ9DZ9w2ftlh9BwbeLQSC~UhJPLE0JGwNAmmz2VONNp8HhjxVNEYHcJo~WejZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Craig Maniglia, director of communications, told the Sarasota County School Board on March 4 that the district has launched a redesigned website, a new mobile app and a two-way classroom messaging platform, and that those tools have driven higher engagement and marketing results.

Why it matters: Communications and government-affairs work can affect school enrollment, public perception and the district's ability to recruit staff. The district described measurable increases in web traffic, social engagement and open-enrollment applications tied to targeted campaigns.

Key accomplishments and metrics
Maniglia said the district relaunched its website in April 2024 with AI-driven search and full translation; staff converted more than 300 policies to searchable HTML. He reported website traffic of 12,000,388 visits (current reporting period) and social media engagement rising to about 9.4%. Maniglia said short-form video strategies produced roughly 5 million impressions this year.

Rooms messaging app and analytics
The district said it introduced Rooms, a two-way, multi-language classroom messaging app, and reported 455,700 messages sent, more than 25,000 guardians logged in, 33,000 app downloads and approximately 10,000 active classrooms (about 80% of classrooms). Maniglia told the board that class-message backups have improved district record retrieval and assisted with at least one early public-record request.

Marketing and recruitment outcomes
Maniglia said targeted geofencing and streaming ads produced a substantial rise in open-enrollment applications: the district had 1,600 new applications in 2023–24 and reported 2,800 applications from the current year's campaign to date. He also said the district's millage referendum materials and outreach contributed to passage at 85% approval.

Language access and translated materials
Communications reported expanded translation of web content and materials for Spanish speakers and other language communities. The district said it has translated 34 videos and will expand translations to five languages for materials relevant to the ELL program and registration.

Revenue opportunities and next steps
Board members asked about monetizing digital channels and advertising opportunities in the new InTouch newsletter and magazine; Maniglia said the district has a policy in place to accept advertising and is building an ad-sales workflow and rate card. He said the communications team is exploring monetization thresholds for platforms such as YouTube while preserving access for student- and school-facing content.

Ending: Board members praised the communications team's work and asked staff to continue refining parent-facing resources (including a planned parent resource center and pilot AI tutoring tools). No board action was taken during the presentation.","Sarasota County Schools' communications director reported growth in website traffic, social engagement and digital tools after a year of website relaunch, a new mobile app and a classroom messaging platform. Staff also described targeted marketing that they say increased open-enrollment applications and higher public visibility.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299734,"School district previews three-year ELL plan; board questions outreach, monitoring and resources",548,1699000,2247000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495619-329a4eebf98a97c032ac87ebd16525db&start=1699&end=2247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495619-329a4eebf98a97c032ac87ebd16525db/thumbnail_1699000.jpg","/articles/6299734/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/School-district-previews-three-year-ELL-plan-board-questions-outreach-monitoring-and-resources","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299734-62a9f546ef819e6d14341baf8e5ee0bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201171&Signature=A-NKzz4gXZWJDc-dManniCp2v2tRA8-Uycu~NPQwFnPDn6UPIqZM9nNkLjQQQ5nUhjRvJZiApPRNuTFPvA7VqygE1FqGor-wZF8ksPiFveiJo0cf2jmHpIKLp-9HWQo9azKtM~jRwVy~YVTNfTmHd3UbfTOLcrRGPei7C3ybzfpf3q2jU511hg~ZUUaSK5t4fY8g3A4KFoyvCHw-lYLMtH-pcizA~-fqQ-vYz1fujH5t-GSxset65MGWSKbNS2Hw-BPy47pzWefZNF-4E4nrNcQRegahthYwXfJmwXJ3F2NCt~qBhZ7vU0bWo8brXMJSIJGYbALNtRIB9igzS8oJug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Megan Parenteau, supervisor of ELL/ESOL, presented Sarasota County Schools' three-year English language learner plan at the March 4 work session, describing enrollment procedures, instructional models, family outreach and monitoring steps the district will use before submitting the plan to the Florida Department of Education.

Why it matters: The ELL plan lays out how the district identifies, places, instructs and monitors multilingual learners across schools — including procedures that affect classroom placement, assessment accommodations and the timeline for exiting services.

Plan components and procedures
Parenteau said the plan is composed of 11 sections covering identification (home language survey), placement (WIDA screener), instructional models (sheltered instruction and push-in supports), statewide assessment accommodations and monitoring procedures. She said the home language survey is now available in eight languages and that schools can use ILA devices or the LanguageLine service when a family's preferred language is not on the form.

“We developed the plan to outline the strategies and procedures that we will use to provide an appropriate education to our EL students, ensuring that they receive equal access to a quality education,” Parenteau said.

The district described the WIDA screener as the tool that determines initial eligibility for ESOL services; staff said a school-based ELL committee can convene to place a student in services even if the screener score is above standard thresholds. Students who exit ESOL are monitored for two academic years, the plan states, and the district's stated goal is to have students exit the program by year six when appropriate.

Family engagement and supports
Parenteau and Rachel O'Day described parent outreach requirements that include annual ESOL family nights (sign-in sheets and agendas are provided to the district) and translation of district and school communications into families' preferred languages. The district reported that, based on recent events, an estimated 50% of ESOL parents attend some school family events but that participation varies widely by school.

Resources, staffing and supplementary programs
Superintendent Conner and board members discussed staffing and resources. District leaders said the superintendent committed to ‘‘overstaffing’’ 10 schools to reduce service gaps, an effort Parenteau and Christy D'Souza said will cost in the range identified by staff (characterized in the meeting as approaching roughly $1 million) but was intended to preserve local ESOL liaison and paraprofessional positions that could otherwise be lost during allocation cycles.

The district described two instructional resources used with ELL students: Imagine Learning (a personalized instructional program) and Elevation (a teacher/liaison resource and compliance platform). Parenteau said Elevation was rolled out first to ESOL liaisons and that it reduces paperwork and helps liaisons spend more time in classrooms working with teachers and students.

Monitoring and special cases
Staff said monitoring uses academic assessment growth (including standardized tests), teacher feedback and report-card grades; if progress is insufficient staff may reconvene an ELL committee and either continue services or consider other evaluations (for example, to rule out dyslexia or other learning issues).

Next steps
Parenteau said no action was required at the March 4 work session; the district will present the ELL plan for board approval at the next regular board meeting. Staff said they will amend the submission if the Department of Education requests changes.

Ending: Board members thanked staff and offered follow-up questions about parent access, transportation for family events and high-school student needs. No vote occurred; board approval was requested at the next meeting.","Sarasota County Schools staff presented the district's English Language Learner (ELL/ESOL) plan for the next three years, described enrollment and monitoring procedures, parent outreach efforts and a plan for teacher supports. Board approval is planned at the next regular board meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sarasota schools report majority of state safety inspections clear; staff outline proposed state rule changes and training updates

District outlines strategic-plan communications gains: website overhaul, apps and marketing credited with rising engagement

School district previews three-year ELL plan; board questions outreach, monitoring and resources