[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6158913,"mediaKeyId","5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2","parentId",5457124,"title","Sarasota expands career, technical and college‑readiness programs; students report rising scholarship totals","audioSeconds",3361,"startMs",7342000,"endMs",10703000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2&start=7342&end=10703","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2/thumbnail_7342000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6158913/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Sarasota-expands-career-technical-and-collegereadiness-programs-students-report-rising-scholarship-totals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158913-a09a096c6a7eba7546f81f546f6cd4ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437848&Signature=bq~JlW1vp-9336WaBtfSl2MQRejl4Qb0tV7yU5igVzU1MX0D-vjVXhdgDgkL229tLbDKjmtfPZAdAJcKYXRo2T5KMrFQ94aT-IplI7kvNa9ykglxt702aIFXFB6xHc2iOmyOiP~bQqrQuWS0958vvKrveXvrXFqvtp9kboxKrticZL8yzIsFodaFYiUXDzwdQAu~N~sse1nazRCSX9tb3JwvoK9P27Pf8Y8aZhmdxk~zcj1ouN3w9bTYtYhnJkMTQtTtMV2MrxegDK9AoiVyukqCCckNpSklzoyeNQBF44YZ29puVn6pkq0yKA-k6jpTJroRsT4DF9tDCu4trpo7pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sarasota County School Board, FL","date","2025-07-24T03:28:12.923Z","article","District career and technical education leaders told the Sarasota County School Board on July 22 that work‑based learning, industry credentials and college‑and‑career planning tools are expanding across the district.

Tripp Jennings, the district’s CCLR lead, and program manager Michelle Groves said about half of the district’s students in grades 6–12 engage in CTE coursework, and the district recorded roughly 4,500 industry credentials earned annually. They reported strong use of SchoolLinks, the district’s college‑and‑career planning platform, and said summer engagement on that platform has been robust.

Data and programs

- SchoolLinks use: Since June 1, over 1,160 students accessed SchoolLinks during the summer; the district is using the platform to capture students’ career‑cluster interests and postsecondary plans and to track event signups. The board approved a multi‑year renewal of the platform.

- College and enrollment results: For the class of 2025, students reported more than $23,000,000 in scholarships received — an increase from about $18.8 million the prior year — and total college acceptances and unique college applications rose. Stafford Technical College and Suncoast Technical College appeared more frequently on student enrollment lists, signaling expanded interest in technical pathways.

- Experiential learning: The district ran nearly 120 middle‑school events and 270 high‑school events during the reporting period with thousands of students participating; activities included industry guest speakers, employer field trips, technical‑college tours and application workshops.

- The farm: The district’s 40‑acre school farm completed a soft opening and hosted more than 500 students on field trips in a partial year; the facility hosted 32 student‑owned animal projects this spring, many of which won awards at the county fair. Phase‑1 construction is complete and a public ribbon cutting is scheduled for Sept. 10; Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson was invited to attend.

New and planned initiatives

- A practical life skills course aligned to state career‑research standards has been developed and will be available to staff through Schoology.

- New multimedia and AI‑infused pathway investments: Wellen Park High School and Sky Ranch (opening this year) will include CTE pathways such as agri‑technology, computer science with AI and cybersecurity components, multimedia and hospitality. The district also announced a $100,000 Gulf Coast Community Foundation grant to pilot an AI‑based digital cinema production program in partnership with local industry and a national production lab model.

- Definition and measurement of college‑and‑career readiness: The district uses a locally adopted, metric‑based definition of “college and career ready” integrated into SchoolLinks; current baseline measures show 61% of graduates meeting the district’s readiness indicators and staff plan a work group to recommend improvements.

What board members asked

Board members urged continued expansion of middle‑school exposure to careers, more parent tutorials for SchoolLinks, and close attention to the potential funding impacts from state changes to accelerated‑course weights that also affect Cape/CTE funding.

Ending

Officials said the district will continue to expand employer and postsecondary partnerships, refine measures of readiness, and pursue grant funding to scale innovative programs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SCS | Board Work Session - July 22, 2025 10:00 am","oneSentenceSummary","District officials showcased growth in CTE participation, SchoolLinks use, experiential learning events and the new county farm; graduates reported higher scholarship totals and increased enrollment in technical programs.","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},6158919,"Student‑led vaping task force proposes education, enforcement and partnerships to curb school vaping",625,6256000,6881000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2&start=6256&end=6881","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2/thumbnail_6256000.jpg","/articles/6158919/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Studentled-vaping-task-force-proposes-education-enforcement-and-partnerships-to-curb-school-vaping","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158919-3ab1860721094e7e633085f780e7477c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437848&Signature=dDEw7pXEX6zlGHFNH7VJm6ICNM3UkSK3z8TNdo5jPKnF16eqa9BxM3iWEhDw1sDkJtd-w1DBVr-IWIuUrQ9SHd2f1bYy3y7E~M~nAffX5w5tiHFwbhTjNg1GWir~azFXIv~8hmiCVhoX0YJXKGTMNCPoqWQd4ZyEbAxLLJcPTRsxn2iW~ybVG-oxFy1s5phpLyetF92yP-OgJp4u0BJIzXPZJfSH4sN-P3nDwVbdqSfPD3mhAAF47j9l4zUhvx8Tca-lMEypL93PEvO-fIXMZc~xb7uOwSJx9H3KyODOuDKNQSdtSV9rF5hrYUJLjsTJp2RI8wVD510GGf2TzyjgnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A student‑led task force presented its recommendations to the Sarasota County School Board on July 22, urging a coordinated mix of discipline, classroom education and community partnerships to reduce vaping among middle‑ and high‑school students.

The task force was led this past year by recent Riverview High School graduate Sebastian Gerstel, who told the board the effort brought together students, law enforcement, the health department, teachers and parents to create a multi‑pronged response.

“It's so much bigger than vaping,” Gerstel said. “It affects not just the students who actually are addicted or on it. It affects our staff. It affects our families. It affects the students who don't even do it. And that's why this is such a big issue for us.”

Three priorities: enforce, educate, eradicate

- Enforce: The task force reviewed discipline language in the student code of conduct related to tobacco, nicotine and drug possession. The group recommended clear, consistent consequences while coupling disciplinary responses with rehabilitative options. Gerstel said the goal is to be “tough, but … fair,” and to use discipline as a bridge to recovery rather than merely punishment.

- Educate: The group recommended replacing annual or single 40‑minute assemblies with shorter, modular video lessons tailored by grade band. For high schools the plan calls for eight short videos (about five minutes each) focused on vaping, addiction, legal consequences and healthy choices; twelfth‑grade programming would include a longer documentary‑style piece modeled on projects such as the Fentanyl Project.

- Eradicate: The task force proposed strengthened partnerships with law enforcement, the health department, Team Court and community organizations to reduce the flow of products to minors and to expand diversion and treatment referrals. Gerstel said North Port’s youth‑led groups and local public‑health partners strengthened the task force’s recommendations and volunteered to help implement outreach and peer‑mentoring programs.

Students, staff and partners

Gerstel and board members discussed technology options such as restroom sensors and AI‑enabled monitoring pilots. Dr. Green and others noted sensors can help identify repeat problem areas, though the district would need to evaluate structural and camera integration costs and privacy implications before wider deployment.

The sheriff’s office and Team Court have agreed to partner on enforcement and second‑chance diversion referrals; the task force aims to increase Team Court referrals for repeat violations. The Health Department offered prevention resources and local clubs such as North Port’s Drug‑Free Youth joined meetings and outreach activities.

What’s next

The district plans to form a summer work group to review curriculum options for grades 5–8 and produce the video modules for high school use. The task force also recommended parent materials and back‑to‑school reminders that explain signs of vaping, available resources and community partners. The district also intends to pilot school‑level mentorship clubs to give students peer‑to‑peer support.

Quotes

“We want the student to be engaged,” Gerstel said of the proposed videos. “We're gonna keep them engaged. We're gonna make it worth their time.”

Ending

Board members praised the student leadership and asked staff to continue planning implementation details, including cost estimates for technology pilots and the schedule for rolling out the education modules before the start of the school year.","A student‑led task force presented a three‑part plan — enforce, educate, eradicate — focused on updated discipline approaches, shorter targeted education modules and community partnerships to address vaping in Sarasota schools.",{"_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},6158923,"Sarasota officials detail ERP rollout problems, forecast and staffing moves as district eyes fall budgets",1287,4187000,5474000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2&start=4187&end=5474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2/thumbnail_4187000.jpg","/articles/6158923/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Sarasota-officials-detail-ERP-rollout-problems-forecast-and-staffing-moves-as-district-eyes-fall-budgets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158923-d7529a756ada14650b14c9406552f138/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437848&Signature=TRd48LMQJlDnFk7b7oeuJGWj69cVEhpkKaspI4MqRbQMRVqDVV7RdX9503K5z0skiNM3napOyd7BIU7GIn4fo7dCIs9Nzge4~fWNgXI~H3NSFHU6JGGcPhysaAR2F6DQxCDh9sQV9ijzeYBz92w7pX96MujN22V6mqvsWgolvhw3bZ~2m5A2QSKL2wa4QDo8glezwWTB77E1GjHRpPVNww7X76tVzI-Yf9w084gpFzoLrEgtFyLk-BxNXBeLKSdyYx0R-9btmaH9uRrlyhQO01gu6hAEHakZ7dfgIDtss6CHAxZJuyfx~6aXQ6NoUCLtwT5aHzV9sRBxG4V0snT~Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sarasota County Schools’ finance leaders told the board on July 22 that the district’s transition to a Skyward enterprise resource planning (ERP) system has produced “significant challenges” but also tangible gains in account structure, online approvals and consolidated purchasing. They also described ongoing budget pressures and staffing adjustments as they build the 2025‑26 budget.

COO Bonnie Pinner, who led the presentation, said the district launched Skyward on Jan. 1, 2025, and cited two areas of ongoing work: migrating historical data into new fields and finishing user training and testing. “The primary issue that we've dealt with relates to just a lack of project plan, testing and training of all users in the implementation plan that was provided by our ERP company,” Pinner said, adding that the district has taken a pause and retooled its approach with the vendor.

Operational effects and fixes

Pinner said the new platform has already enabled bank reconciliations, integration of purchasing‑card transactions, dashboards and a mobile approvals app. She described planned follow-ups that will reduce manual work: time‑tracking for employees who clock in/out, online leave requests, and asset‑tracking for inventory and depreciation.

Payroll preparer workarounds and recognition

Because timesheets in Skyward reflect pay rather than strictly hours worked, Pinner said payroll teams have had to change how they enter time and reconcile leave. She publicly recognized payroll staff — naming Anita Barnes — for keeping paychecks on schedule through the transition.

Budget forecast and pressures

Pinner and board members discussed recent budget actions and a preliminary closeout projection of a 12.72% general‑fund balance for fiscal 2024‑25 (the number was published with the tentative budget), with a preliminary target of 9% for 2025‑26. Board members asked why the year‑end projection rose from a budgeted 9.5% to 12.72%; Pinner explained conservative initial assumptions, better‑than‑expected revenues such as interest and underspending in some object codes can raise the realized balance.

Superintendent Connor and board members emphasized continuing cost pressures. Connor said federal pandemic (ESSER/ARP) dollars had masked some structural needs in past years, and that continuing costs — health care, Florida Retirement System contributions and mandated teacher pay increases — leave districts exposed if state operating increases are small or flat. He also reiterated that capital funds built recent schools and are separate from operating funds.

Staffing adjustments and approach

The district described a summer staffing process intended to minimize disruption at the start of the school year. Connor said the district focused on non‑roster positions and vacancies, regionalized some technology support roles and sought to place affected employees into suitable roles where possible. The board was told that every impacted person was offered an alternate position or other accommodation in the June staffing actions.

Uncertainties: state fourth calculation and federal grants

Pinner and Connor also warned of two outstanding uncertainties: the Florida Department of Education’s fourth funding calculation (delayed) and pending federal grants (titles 2, 3 and 4 and adult education) that total roughly $3 million in the district’s view. Both items could alter final 2024‑25 results and the 2025‑26 budget.

What board members asked

Members pressed district staff on the causes of fund‑balance swings, the specifics of the Skyward migration, and whether credit‑card processing fees (for school payments and lunch accounts) could be reduced, including exploring ACH or alternative processors. Pinner said some fees are pass‑through network charges and options will be investigated.

Ending

Board members praised staff for keeping payroll and core services running under difficult conditions and asked the administration to continue proactive communications as budget assumptions firm up this fall.","District CFO and COO described a difficult Skyward ERP conversion, ongoing payroll/timesheet issues, and a preliminary fund‑balance forecast of about 12.7% for FY24‑25, while projecting a 9% target for 2025‑26 and continuing budget pressures from scholarships, FRS and rising costs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6158928,"Sarasota school officials outline results of 2025 Florida legislative session and what it means for district funding",1506,546000,2052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2&start=546&end=2052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5457124-36ca5d8362fed17982ff61f9b15765c2/thumbnail_546000.jpg","/articles/6158928/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Sarasota-school-officials-outline-results-of-2025-Florida-legislative-session-and-what-it-means-for-district-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158928-8dcda395288c48f8dbdb894919e907e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437848&Signature=QHHy5csqCJQnN4kpeuNIXqTpOe2d5IGuobyVg4hyGZCeGhCzkF8tLso3L5l9AGjvCiuaweCbvZkWTACjiqdFhWyHhNC-pXOtZNLiK0HJweD66pDz8CQTzydlu2jEhH4ANdisz6XuoZONwoiIA24jdNc0Lo5nWjH4fj0LjOgUTs~Phu2pLbEiOv7zKa3ItXreowe1B1YE1itga91kNaKgmAH14CmHgilEgJQPee52zf8HqzISHJXxUKGPXETpsgeZWJ9VuwE~iO~kSDHL0DCUHlRirOXdm8hmZWdPjxvq7BFjAGSAymoCU6yUHJZG-OEx4mtRBMhCB24V7B5ZCc~Thw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sarasota County School Board officials and their lobbyists on July 22 summarized outcomes of the unusually prolonged 2025 Florida legislative session and the near-term effects on district finances, programs and compliance requirements.

The district’s outside lobbyist, Ron LaFace of Capital City Consulting, told the board the Legislature finally passed a conference budget on June 16 and that the state’s general appropriation for the fiscal year beginning July 1 totaled $115,000,000,000.

“That budget is in place,” LaFace said, but he warned the session left unresolved pressures for local governments. He said the final package is roughly $3.5 billion smaller than last year’s budget and that, even where total silo totals rose, districts still face flat or effectively tighter K‑12 dollars when accounting for mandated costs. “When you line up against the required spending of the Florida Retirement System increases as well as the teacher salary increases … the BSA increase does not make up for that,” he said.

Why it matters: School officials said the district avoided a proposed 50% cut to add-on funding for accelerated programs — AP, IB, ACE and CAPE — after a vigorous local advocacy push. District staff and community members submitted data and contacted legislators to justify retaining those weights; the Legislature instead moved those funds into a separate categorical line for reporting. The board heard that change increases transparency but also invites continued scrutiny of how districts allocate the funds.

Budget specifics and local impacts

LaFace listed several key budget highlights affecting Sarasota: the Legislature left K‑12 funding essentially flat overall; it created a proposed constitutional amendment to raise a budget stabilization reserve from 10% to 25% (to go before voters in 2026); and it added an authority within the governor’s budget office allowing review of many local government expenditures (a provision LaFace said does not apply to school districts as written). He also noted the Legislature preserved a $750,000 appropriation for the North Port technical college branch.

Superintendent Connor and board members used the session recap to explain how state funding shifts interact with district costs such as FRS contributions, mandated teacher pay increases and rising operational expenses. Board members said those structural cost increases — combined with growth in the state’s school-choice scholarship programs — are already compressing local budgets.

Selected policy changes to watch

- School of Hope expansion and facility use: The conforming education bill (discussed as the implementing legislation for the budget) broadened the School of Hope program and allows charters or other providers to apply to use surplus or underutilized school facilities; providers would need performance agreements with districts.

- School start times: The Legislature created an exemption process to the prior start‑time law. Districts can file a report demonstrating attempts to comply and that costs or unintended consequences outweigh benefits to seek an exemption.

- School safety and “guardian” program expansion: The school-safety bill clarified required locking procedures for “exclusive zones” on campus and expanded optional participation in guardian‑type programs to private schools and childcare facilities.

- Curriculum and credentialing changes: Among omnibus education measures were a repeal of the certificate of completion, changes affecting CAPE certifications and new statutory direction on standards reviews and reading-intervention provider requirements.

Scholarship accountability, ECGs and continuing items

LaFace said scholarship-accountability reform did not pass this session but remains an active topic; the Auditor General will issue a fall report on student-count discrepancies. The district also briefed the board on a Senate measure requiring ECG screenings for high‑school athletes and said it will bring a contract to the August agenda to offer low-cost ($20) screenings to student athletes, with accommodations for families who cannot pay.

What the board asked and next steps

Board members pressed why K‑12 funding felt flat despite overall budget figures and sought detail on the rationale for the proposed accelerated-program reductions. LaFace and superintendent staff explained the reductions were tied to technical changes in the FEFP after House Bill 1 collapsed several categoricals into the base, which made add-on weights apply to a larger base amount. The district said it successfully argued that accelerated-program funds are invested directly in the students and schools that generate them.

The district also reported it has drafted 17 policy revisions to align local rules with new state requirements and will wait for final state policy language on safety changes before bringing those to the board for formal advertisement and adoption.

Quotes

“Without our legislative partners and principal leaders pushing data to our delegation, I don’t think we would have maintained the add‑on funding,” Superintendent Connor said during the discussion. Ron LaFace summarized the session as “unique” and repeatedly cautioned that the budget and conforming bills create new reporting and compliance demands for local governments.

Ending

Board members said they will use the district’s next workshop to consider a proposed legislative platform for the 2026 session and continue monitoring the Department of Education’s fourth funding calculation and the Auditor General’s forthcoming scholarship‑audit report.","District leaders and lobbyists reviewed the long 2025 Florida legislative session, saying Sarasota preserved accelerated-course add-on funding but faces continued budget pressure from flat K‑12 funding, scholarship program growth and rising fixed costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sarasota expands career, technical and college‑readiness programs; students report rising scholarship totals

Student‑led vaping task force proposes education, enforcement and partnerships to curb school vaping

Sarasota officials detail ERP rollout problems, forecast and staffing moves as district eyes fall budgets

Sarasota school officials outline results of 2025 Florida legislative session and what it means for district funding