[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6493489,"mediaKeyId","5555720-b935e76d5fbcfee6c01f16a80ac79c4a","parentId",5555720,"title","Bates County school board signals direction to build full Lakewood Ranch high school; cost and timing remain contentious","audioSeconds",6730,"startMs",61000,"endMs",6791000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5555720-b935e76d5fbcfee6c01f16a80ac79c4a&start=61&end=6791","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5555720-b935e76d5fbcfee6c01f16a80ac79c4a/thumbnail_61000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6493489/Florida/Bates-County-school-board-signals-direction-to-build-full-Lakewood-Ranch-high-school-cost-and-timing-remain-contentious","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493489-c129d23916e1dae320372323e7d66af0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499989&Signature=YKxz0xBDPO2BOMt2LdsbOcB9Tsp7k9ucMNFDfH6zzcSx5gyUohjCnlQoVtgp32Sn4xT-ZOyR570DIsSOTuUCXXgLsCm2IXiQwFpHjRqjcHYos-2diMy31HTlzJ2CPlaS1yQWFdmnORZBthFPzclbdVhk86QhGmX6QSGnbp2MKcMOPDlCyQUxciv-nKQtSOnA~~KFq9EGlGnL3kAxUPlACiGCSaRxp~dwWNfFkIynQ6EFLv7zINpUFr2ESNS9-iuBXWUqo79YXVVl6UhENRq~~Xvud0FSKD366J33qyZ0bceIU93mpyNBkyZIVpYFOV5pwvHYUtQuXpE5NFADFc10-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School District of Manatee County","date","2025-08-08T18:23:38.91Z","article","School board members in Bates County discussed a proposed new high school for the Lakewood Ranch area at an Aug. 8 workshop and signaled a consensus to move forward with a full high school plan while also airing major concerns about cost and schedule.

A resident, Kimberly Brewer, opened public comment urging the board to choose the most comprehensive option, which she described as “option 3.” “I urge you to please support option 3, and let's not cut corners when it comes to our children's future,” Brewer told the board.

Board members and staff spent several hours on enrollment projections, funding options and construction scheduling. Chair Chote opened the discussion by saying the board needed to “come out of this meeting ... give a direction to staff on how do we move forward,” and, after extended debate, several members said they supported moving ahead on the larger campus so it could open by fall 2027.

Staff and board members cited rapidly rising enrollment at nearby schools, with recent counts above May projections. Joe Jensen (district enrollment projections) explained that Lakewood Ranch and Parrish high schools each showed increases in summer counts that exceeded the staffing and construction allocations prepared in May. Several board members said that trend underlined the need to start construction now rather than delay.

Finance and planning staff described a funding plan that relies largely on impact fees generated by new residential construction in the county. District finance staff told the board last year’s COP (certificate of participation) offering and a 1.5-mill local funding allocation were already positioned to pay debt service for ongoing projects; for the proposed 2026 COPs package staff indicated roughly 80–100% of the debt for the new high school and additions would be covered by impact fees, with the remainder covered by the district’s capital millage allocation.

Board members debated trade-offs. Trustee Tatum urged the board to build a Parrish-style full high school — including athletic fields, auditorium and full facilities — arguing that pausing now and returning for a second COP in a few years would likely increase total costs. Trustee Kennedy cautioned about borrowing now at higher interest rates and asked whether postponing by a year to capture lower rates might save “tens of millions of dollars in interest payments.” District financial advisors told the board they monitor market timing and aim to bring debt to market in the most favorable window; staff identified a tentative timeline in which architects would finish 100% design and a construction manager would prepare an initial guaranteed maximum price (GMP) in September with potential COP issuance discussions in October.

The board reviewed three financing/construction scenarios provided by staff. Staff presented a “scenario 3” package that would include a full academic campus sized similarly to Parrish High School (two academic buildings, auditorium, gymnasium and athletic fields) with an estimated construction cost of about $182 million for the high school plus additional projects (a Myakka Elementary renovation and a Lake Manatee K–8 addition), yielding a combined COP package near $230 million in staff materials. Members noted that the district’s per-student construction cost estimates currently exceed the Florida Department of Education’s recent cost-per-student figures; Trustee Tatum and others asked staff to explore design changes, exemptions to state SREF building standards, and other value-engineering steps to reduce cost per student station.

No formal board vote was recorded at the workshop. Multiple trustees indicated support for proceeding with design and funding preparations for a full high school to meet a 2027 opening; staff said they would continue 100% design work and prepare procurement documents and an early GMP for the construction manager so that a COP offering could be timed with market conditions. Board members also requested further analysis on possible SR F exemptions, design value engineering, and a community outreach process to test trade-offs between facility standards and costs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Workshop August 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At an Aug. 8 workshop the Bates County School Board signaled consensus to proceed with a full Lakewood Ranch high school while members debated costs, funding sources and whether to change facility standards to reduce construction expenses.","taxTitle","Manatee, School Districts, Florida","taxId",13113,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6493493,"MTC reports growth in apprenticeships, secures state grant to expand technical apprenticeships",1610,2300000,3910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5555720-b935e76d5fbcfee6c01f16a80ac79c4a&start=2300&end=3910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5555720-b935e76d5fbcfee6c01f16a80ac79c4a/thumbnail_2300000.jpg","/articles/6493493/Florida/MTC-reports-growth-in-apprenticeships-secures-state-grant-to-expand-technical-apprenticeships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493493-af23f20dd66cce9caa4af6f59fe9bf55/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499989&Signature=V~gkjr5296X0Gr977atj435UHMRCD9sacudQlgIq2Usq-SIv0s4aki6IFQPSlFRpyVJg71zmCfVYQHyWux~GTsPKgsQh713zOh7klgbGrdyZ0rIGYnp3Au0y5BtM4MBBcIge0QFH6vZyw0uhmsZ-QtsROoogVOK0-cSF3v5qtYGJoYiSoNGVWpN0LW2UlaClZ1XO2oU-V9QjuP0lpU3L1dTS37nrS2H8nGIdJFpecykAlJt6XlgDVghF1UIqFznvoxgm2O8RHexwL5Hil3BdjWEqtQ0I29l-kut8wBTzG-AinPnxNzFyVqbCq-b1ebH5vCHIB3vi8JBVEsuPaYZoFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Manatee Technical College officials briefed the Bates County School Board on a recent expansion of registered apprenticeship programs and a state grant intended to support classroom instruction, equipment and outreach.

Kevin Robertson, the college’s apprenticeship supervisor, said MTC and its industry partners increased registered apprentice enrollment and expanded program sponsorships in 2023–25. Robertson said the college’s partnership with PGT (window installers) has grown from an initial six apprentices to roughly 40 students now enrolled statewide under MTC’s program; other sponsor partners include the Technical Education Council (electrical) and the Manatee Area Air Conditioning Contractors Association (MACA) for HVAC apprentices.

“I'm really excited about what MTC has in apprenticeships and the direction that we're heading,” Robertson said during the workshop.

Dr. Jody Kirk and Robertson described how registered apprentices combine employer-based on-the-job training (OJT) — typically about 2,000 hours per year for a multi-year apprenticeship — with related technical instruction delivered by MTC (often about 144 hours annually per level). The apprenticeship model differs from the college’s standard credit programs: apprentices are typically already employed by a sponsoring company that provides OJT and workplace supervision while MTC delivers the formal instruction and testing.

Robertson said the college recorded a net gain of apprentices in the 2023–24 cycle and has grown programs to include levels 1–4 in electrical and HVAC. He reported overall gains of 72 apprentices in the most recent reporting period and said MTC expects roughly 200 apprentices countywide in the next academic year as the new programs scale.

MTC staff said it received a Pathways Opportunities grant in March 2025 for $299,202 to cover part-time instruction, equipment and supplies for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship activities. Officials said that grant money will be used for marketing and outreach, salaries for part-time instruction, equipment purchases and materials to grow the registered programs.

The college also described early-career outreach, such as pre-apprenticeship planning with local high schools and a pre-apprenticeship construction application the district anticipates sending to the state for approval. MTC said it is coordinating with local employers, chambers of commerce and regional partners to place apprentices close to students’ homes where feasible and to recruit employer sponsors.

Board members asked about program timelines, employer recruitment and whether apprenticeships accept trainees who are not yet employed; staff said sponsor organizations and dealer networks typically funnel apprentices into employer placements, while MTC will help candidates identify potential sponsors and employer partners.","Manatee Technical College told the Bates County School Board it has expanded registered apprenticeship programs — including window installers, electrical and HVAC — and received a $299,202 state grant to support related instruction, equipment and marketing.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6493498,"Manatee Technical College outlines Project EDGE program for students with unique abilities",1767,215000,1982000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5555720-b935e76d5fbcfee6c01f16a80ac79c4a&start=215&end=1982","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5555720-b935e76d5fbcfee6c01f16a80ac79c4a/thumbnail_215000.jpg","/articles/6493498/Florida/Manatee-Technical-College-outlines-Project-EDGE-program-for-students-with-unique-abilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493498-d8edf8ab22bdbd5946aa72f360b06e3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499989&Signature=iq1P4f-b97uLs~ORCPBD~Q-mipeFvlWMb4DOEOIXm1Bn1Gu2aFdVSFXSHgg9ehoJF0tMIBeMZZgUmILMC-WgUMjPXeHQ0n37mtVBlbxNzgy4dZ6sx--R-2-0X5SImTKZFwI24FaMG5yBiPpHS4N6OOe7if665WvWPLrSXu4kDeMgt8xOi~R~v-EZQCOZcs55pUzkylnls9plbyT1ET-APl7fXxZHQWwCBA3xkuyVWix~BkIUiuIGlw4QgpdowOV0sw8zJaKPg02-UMkDCjxzF~1CLxC~wLhRzghnPpklVaiROaIyPvcmF6lXHVU7SQ~dhkrRmo8CjwVzRlyy4Dn4Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Manatee Technical College officials updated the Bates County School Board on Project EDGE, a postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities that launched its inaugural cohort this past year.

The college presented completion and placement details and described how state funding and scholarships from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities support tuition, books, materials and staffing. Dr. Paul Gansmer, who led the presentation, said the program is intentionally small and hands-on: “We believe that Manatee Technical College is one of the best technical colleges in the state,” he told the board.

Project EDGE is structured in stages. Stage 1 provides a year of life and employment skills on MTC’s East campus and allows students to audit technical classes and pursue certifications. Stage 2 places participants into credit technical programs (for example, baking and pastry, advanced manufacturing, early childhood education or construction) that vary in length by trade. The program is accredited through the Council on Occupational Education and is described to families as free for eligible students because scholarships and grants cover direct costs.

Dawn Giddens, the program coordinator, reported results from the inaugural cohort: eight students completed the first-year program out of 10 starters; two of those graduates had secured paid employment “in something that they actually want to do,” she said, and five enrolled in MTC’s main campus technical programs. One graduate accepted placement at Southeastern University to continue on a residential track while others remained on campus for further training.

Dr. Jody Kirk, the college’s director, said Project EDGE is supported by the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities (a program established under state postsecondary transition law) and by periodic professional development and grant opportunities. She said MTC is following the state application process and has obtained both the center’s program approval and related scholarships and grants.

Board members asked how the college finds employers and handles transportation. Giddens described several workforce partnerships and said staff conducts interest inventories and works with local businesses and vocational rehabilitation to place graduates. She also confirmed MTC lists handy-bus application information on its Project EDGE and disability services web pages and that, this year, three students used the county’s handy-bus service to travel to campus.

Gansmer and Kirk said a second cohort began classes in early August; the college plans to expand certifications available early in the year and to continue advising and employer outreach, including invitations to local business partners and the chamber of commerce for future tours and hiring conversations. The presenters said they will track graduate outcomes and report student data to the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities for up to five years as required by the program.","Manatee Technical College described the first year results of Project EDGE — a state-supported postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities — reporting student completions, early employment placements and plans to expand a second cohort beginning August.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bates County school board signals direction to build full Lakewood Ranch high school; cost and timing remain contentious

MTC reports growth in apprenticeships, secures state grant to expand technical apprenticeships

Manatee Technical College outlines Project EDGE program for students with unique abilities