[{"_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",6250401,"mediaKeyId","3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946","parentId",3202743,"title","Sarasota district outlines facilities, fleet and technology initiatives; board to consider updated impact-fee study","audioSeconds",1024,"startMs",3557000,"endMs",4581000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946&start=3557&end=4581","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946/thumbnail_3557000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250401/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Sarasota-district-outlines-facilities-fleet-and-technology-initiatives-board-to-consider-updated-impact-fee-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250401-10feb9b7feb0d188624b98d89905ae4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775245499&Signature=cIBTaDoSACoz~V18W-Xl8Ny7FHH8x4znWaEehINUmQVUZxfB0GXlgZQqYEOT4FbUTq7nJ0qb~GA4NckA9d~UQ3O~XXyhfeUeOx1MWTS5aSWBDILbbU70duler9elfCDJbtGtVteJX3B8R2TpCldAEMONS~LUnq591fnKKu6ZsDLsCpd9TaXy-rNcNLWGpRskKf8ljOx20AFmz2hUs6TIcCQwlCf0murIUhAJuOaSy18I4vG~SghoDskTPsVJM49CVbwwKtXnScyIrbNhDj5zDYKb1LkEqrSJaSskszdUrzin9ObLVeSQ-vvO8bnGHfzWZ7h-JeWrDvCNC-UBwQCAaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sarasota County School Board, FL","date","2025-05-06T20:05:54.173Z","article","Sarasota County Schools operations leaders told the board Wednesday they are pursuing a string of efficiency and reliability projects intended to align capital work with the districts strategic plan: a new capital-improvement presentation this summer, project-management software for construction, a white-fleet leasing program, updated impact-fee modeling and improvements to bus dispatch and meal-service systems.

Why it matters: The initiatives affect the districts ability to maintain buildings, open new schools on time, manage fleet costs, and recover some of the fiscal burden of growth. Board members pressed staff on impact fees, student-capacity trade-offs and when individual projects will appear in the five-year capital plan.

Major operational items discussed
- Capital improvement and project management: Facilities staff said the capital-improvement plan for the coming budget cycle will reflect a slowing of growth and will be presented to the board during the summer budget process; the district is adopting Procore project-management software to centralize construction documents and change orders.
- White-fleet leasing: The district ordered 55 white-fleet vehicles through a leasing partnership; staff said two vehicles have been produced, 20 are scheduled and about 20 remain awaiting production. Transportation leaders described the arrangement with Enterprise as streamlining ordering and up-fit processes and freeing mechanics to focus on school buses.
- Impact-fee study and policy: The district plans to piggyback on the county contract with TischlerBise (TischlerBice) to update the educational impact-fee study and to present board approval for the consultant on the May 20 agenda. Staff summarized the 2022 studys finding that Sarasota County Schools were among the lowest in the state and that statutory rules limit a phased increase to a 50% cap implemented across four years; staff described a possible follow-up to explore petitions for higher increases where the law allows.
- Portable-classroom strategy and capacity: Facilities staff said the district is tracking portables districtwide and pursuing reductions when possible via redistricting, classroom additions or new permanent wings; some schools with long-term need may be candidates for permanent wing construction rather than portable units.
- Transportation and routing modernization: The district plans to deploy Tyler Technologies transportation software for routing and parent notifications, with a targeted implementation and routing stabilization period in 2025–26 and rollout in 2026–27. Separately, dispatch was reorganized into two radio channels and a regional dispatch configuration meant to improve responsiveness.
- Food-service inventory and menu improvements: Food and Nutrition Services completed most phases of a new MCS inventory system, has moved procurement to a buying cooperative for better pricing and is testing from-scratch menu items and updated serving lines to increase participation.

Discussion vs. decisions
- Discussion: Board members and staff discussed the tradeoffs of concrete modular classrooms versus portables (concretable units become part of permanent FISH capacity), the desire to seek higher impact fees and how impact-fee revenues are a pass-through borne by developers and homebuyers.
- Direction: Staff will bring an item on May 20 to authorize piggybacking on the county contract for an updated impact-fee study and will return with the capital-improvement plan in the summer.
- Formal action: None voted at the workshop; staff said procurement or contract approvals will come to the board as formal agenda items.

Quantities and timing noted in the session
- White-fleet order: 55 vehicles ordered; 2 produced and in production upfit, 20 scheduled, and remaining vehicles awaiting production.
- Impact-fee context: 2022 TischlerBice study recommended maximum allowable increases; state law phases increases with a maximum step-up of 50% subject to a four-year implementation schedule and a required 90-day waiting period after a board resolution.

Ending: Staff said they will present the updated impact-fee study contract for board approval on May 20 and will return with the districts capital-improvement plan during the budget cycle this summer.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SCS | Board Work Session - May 6, 2025 10:00 am","oneSentenceSummary","Operations leaders outlined 24 ongoing initiatives including a new capital-improvement plan, Procore construction software, a 55-vehicle white-fleet leasing order and a plan to update the districts educational impact-fee study.","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},6250407,"Sarasota County Schools updates student progression plan, adds digital academic intervention plan tied to Focus SIS",691,544000,1235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946&start=544&end=1235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946/thumbnail_544000.jpg","/articles/6250407/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Sarasota-County-Schools-updates-student-progression-plan-adds-digital-academic-intervention-plan-tied-to-Focus-SIS","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250407-9efe3898781faf4104351891bc2b6ab0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775245499&Signature=E1kseTS93r8C0bftGV2lVVECDr1oAcztJp51VAB7h6xQWQXQ3h3JjJFzgWiDWKksS4Rui0x9TPfpPqLR7IK6x7Ds0eGUczDA-nEFLiC4kYQYI3bpyI6MsDGWx-ExZKDh1l~L-~iXbMAxItdL48cqSWBrSfz~45JoNZcesJH5TnJVJi~goxSFU5IewDSGfAd54Kb3S5F~u3doecS8elCm0VG1Fu46VELJuZyM99sDsjQIsAUry4Cqa1dKtimDAwBXZbf-xIBknylt657Wskl04UeKUogoT~j3Q-L4ynUnOyZirTdFrtLzV7w86Uf1adJSHnlysm4EghlahLiG15ynLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School Board of Sarasota County was briefed Wednesday on revisions to the districts annual student progression plan, including a new Academic Intervention Plan that will be housed in the districts Focus student information system and intended to centralize statutorily required notifications and stepwise interventions.

Deputy Superintendent Rachel ODay told the board \"this is an annual process that we go through when we review our student progression plan to make sure that we're incorporating any new or updated legislative changes or any practices that we may have refined.\" She said the districts curriculum and level chiefs worked with technology staff to put the AIP into Focus so notifications and records will be kept in one place rather than through multiple paper or electronic forms.

Why it matters: District staff said the AIP is intended to reduce duplication and confusion for families and school staff by putting statutorily required notices, tiered interventions and next-step options in one, searchable location. Staff said the system will allow principals, teachers and parents to see a students progression from early interventions through possible 504 or IEP referrals.

Key updates described by staff
- Academic Intervention Plan (AIP) in Focus: The AIP will house progressive notifications and intervention documentation for concerns ranging from early academic or attendance issues to considerations for 504 or IEP pathways. Rachel ODay said the plan is \"paperwork light\" and will roll out at the summer leadership institute for principals and school leaders to train teachers.
- Secondary grading and Focus rollout: High-school grades for non-EOC courses will post at semester rather than more frequently; Focus will allow more precise GPA tracking and support for half-credit recovery. Staff said the change helps with credit recovery and clearer transcripts for college applications.
- Foreign-exchange and transfer provisions: The plan adds language requiring J-1 visa documentation and proof of English-language proficiency for exchange students; it reminds schools that exchange students do not qualify for Title III language supplements and that host families must be vetted by recognized organizations (Council on Standards for International Educational Travel, per presentation).
- Transfer grades and incomplete rules: When students transfer in without 20 days of grade data, teachers may post an Incomplete and allow the remainder of the quarter/semester to determine the final mark; staff said the 20-day threshold responds to teacher concerns about being required to grade students after minimal contact.
- Home-education documentation: Schools will require evidence of academic progress from home-education providers before issuing grades when students return to public schools.
- ELL alternate graduation pathways: District staff said high schools are clarifying options for English-language learners to meet ELA graduation requirements through alternate measures such as college-credit-bearing ACE courses and portfolios where students do not meet FAST/ concordance thresholds.

Discussion vs. decisions
- Discussion: Board members and staff discussed whether consolidating notifications into the AIP will avoid \"notification fatigue\" for families and whether schools have capacity to call and follow up as well as send digital notices. Several members emphasized the need not to let compliance replace relationship-building.
- Direction: Staff said the AIP will be launched to principals at the summer leadership institute and rolled into teacher training so the system is in place for 2025-26.
- Formal action: None taken at the workshop; staff said formal adoption of any policy language will be presented as needed at a future board meeting.

What staff will do next: Staff said they will publish the student progression plan digitally with hyperlinks to the districts administrative codes and the cited state legislative provisions, train principals and teachers at the summer institute, and begin using Focus for the AIP and for semester-grade posting at the high-school level.

Ending note: The district emphasized that the AIP is intended to streamline required notices and to support early intervention and monitoring rather than to create new punitive processes; several board members asked for future updates on AIP use rates and family engagement after the rollout.","The School Board of Sarasota County was briefed Wednesday on revisions to the districts annual student progression plan, including a new Academic Intervention Plan that will be housed in the districts Focus student information system and intended to centralize statutorily required notifications and stepwise interventions.",{"_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},6250397,"Sarasota expands early learning and student-support teams; district launches VPK classrooms, boosts mental-health staffing and school health services",730,9915000,10645000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946&start=9915&end=10645","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946/thumbnail_9915000.jpg","/articles/6250397/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Sarasota-expands-early-learning-and-student-support-teams-district-launches-VPK-classrooms-boosts-mental-health-staffing-and-school-health-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250397-1f51dab32abf38738e2ab29e9b39ae7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775245499&Signature=dhRWdOa8tKP6BH2S26X0eJaD~mjCdNZbYFU~VtnC1mBrd9pZs-G5-pIn3K-Nr6kCowd6XhpKvpM4sbbLLg8961m9zJKNWM1eRGtg6iZNTs3YdzkNOfjEjQba1wYKxeggtssXDap62KvqDbqEwiIKppVIXE41wgOWV47KFRG6BoErKk2xpGP-k5~AC8E0LsweBVFB4pVg6V~r8t0CDm99AEaG8ouHde~Lkgo7G8p6Jf-jl9WoEmuiEMhHTTkh7FqUBAnRN9Faag1w8ZJuXhN86O8DA-HXgPc9eu62M7-11Wl756vdQiKKHjA4tXwt83MzDLieSbb8ltOGXhKUU2mcTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sarasota County Schools presented a multi-part update on early learning, school health and student support services at Wednesdays workshop, describing planned expansions to prekindergarten (VPK), increased clinical staffing in school clinics, and scaling up of district mental-health supports.

Early learning and VPK
- Conversion and expansion: Director of Early Childhood Tracy Cardenas said the district converted 15 grant-funded general-education and ESE blended preschool programs to offer VPK and added five more VPK classrooms at Atwater, Englewood, Glen Allen and Toledo Blade, bringing the program total to 19 classrooms for the prior year. Board discussion referenced an enrollment figure of about 296 VPK students in the current year.
- Professional learning and assessments: Staff said they have trained VPK teachers in early-literacy assessments (FAST/STAR early literacy) and the Brigance developmental inventory; staff reported that the VPK cohort outperformed other learners entering kindergarten on the districts early assessments in one comparison cited during the presentation.
- Transition and community partnerships: The early-learning office said it coordinates with the Early Learning Coalition, Children First, Head Start, local child-care providers and other community partners and uses a pre-k-to-kindergarten transition checklist to improve readiness.

School health
- Clinic complexity and screenings: School health supervisor Susie DeBose reported sharp increases in clinic complexity; staff documented nearly 300,000 health-room visits districtwide this year and said about 35,000 resulted in students being sent home or referred for off-campus care. Department of Health partners and local providers performed screenings and services: staff cited approximately 13,000 vision screenings, 9,600 hearing screenings, 9,300 BMI screenings and 3,500 scoliosis screenings during the year. DeBose also described dental-screening and sealant programs at 11 elementary schools.

Mental health and student services
- Staffing and ratios: Executive director Deb Jackalone and colleagues said the district has steadily reduced student-to-staff ratios by adding counselors, psychologists and social workers; staff said the increased staffing allows more direct student interventions. Superintendent Brittetta Connor and Jackalone emphasized teacher, principal and district coordination.
- New district mental-health resilience team (M-HEART): The board was told the district will add five school psychologists next year to form a mobile mental-health/resiliency team (called HEART in presentation notes) to provide direct services, coaching for school-based mental-health providers, crisis response and community referrals. Staff said the team will integrate with school-based counselors, behavior coaches and home-school liaisons and provide on-site coaching.
- Proactive behavior response and professional learning: District behavior coaches provided many days of on-site support to students with significant externalizing behaviors. The district also trained 65 school-based staff and home-school liaisons in an evidence-based school well-being program and plans to roll out a coordinated well-being program to schools with parental consent.

Discussion vs. decisions
- Discussion: Board members praised the districts early-learning expansion and asked for ongoing cohort tracking to measure long-term outcomes (third grade and beyond). Members also asked for clarity on how students are triaged between school-based services, interagency support and referral to outside clinical care.
- Direction: Staff said they will continue to monitor cohorts using Focus and the districts assessment platforms and to enroll additional VPK seats where capacity and community partnerships allow (Sky Ranch VPK was planned for 2026-27).
- Formal action: No board vote occurred at the workshop; staff said some initiatives are grant-funded or already budgeted.

Ending: District leaders asked for continued board support for staffing and partnerships and said they will return with more programmatic-review findings and cohort data later in the summer.","Sarasota County Schools said Wednesday it has expanded VPK availability, increased school-health services and is adding a mobile district mental-health team to support students and families.",{"_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},6250404,"Board hears how Sarasota schools will meet K–5 recess and PE statutory minutes; principals given scheduling guidance and added staff",224,1188000,1412000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946&start=1188&end=1412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202743-b7b4f5c5c6b9a0029e8836525aa2c946/thumbnail_1188000.jpg","/articles/6250404/Sarasota/School-Districts/Florida/Board-hears-how-Sarasota-schools-will-meet-K5-recess-and-PE-statutory-minutes-principals-given-scheduling-guidance-and-added-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250404-95edc90615d5312c85cc825ab2dfc7cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775245499&Signature=I3lfLjKaRbyf391uruZR9-47FGIk85MeraOQKxPXcUQFBYaV32XVmmAUeClgVMhkwYHz~VoXVYu1ZnmGScEsutAusneFL7puKExDOo8C8DDFeE-fjJ1q0irdfrp4JsZXQRhOxl-~fNAeg2XWqxzPJdHoceqdq15IlJzy3OowlGxkb~XLpafhSChCbtT1KRtFtppc6rqplqUmXJUIOjL6erCM0mk4vJBGW9vgz-AHNCVbtu8g4gnxvSFQcY0oRLPB7r~6rVzoJvqMUBJ4B8D7npHrAt36VIX1EQYBmjj7CeeoyrDc7fNZJJ4~94CKU6XJ0PHmVghzkqZkp6M-qqDk0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","School district leaders told the School Board of Sarasota County Wednesday they have updated master-schedule templates and staffing allocations to meet statutory recess and physical-education requirements for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Jennifer Manelli, the districts chief of elementary schools, said state law requires 20 minutes of daily recess and 150 minutes of PE per week, with the additional caveat that \"nothing below 30 minutes can count as a block of PE time.\" She said the district revised master-scheduling guidance and its staffing formula so principals would have enough PE teachers and aides to meet both daily recess and weekly PE minutes.

Why it matters: Board members said they want students to have adequate unstructured play and physical activity because of benefits to behavior and learning. Several members asked whether the district could expand recess blocks to 30 minutes in some schools; staff said space and instructional minutes make that difficult in fourth and fifth grades and that scheduling trade-offs are required.

Key points from the discussion
- Statute and district action: Manelli summarized the statutory requirement—20 minutes of recess daily and 150 minutes of PE per week, with a 30-minute minimum for PE blocks—and said scheduling guidance and staffing allocations were adjusted last year. She told the board schools now have the resources to meet the statutory requirements.
- Exceptions and classroom practice: Staff and board members discussed how, when students misbehave, teachers may redirect them to structured alternatives (for example, walking or a supervised activity) rather than simply removing physical activity. \"You should not be hearing about not being engaged in physical activity,\" Manelli said, adding structured alternatives or lunch-detention options may be used rather than withholding PE entirely.
- Board questions: Members pressed whether a districtwide increase to 30-minute recess blocks might be possible; staff said the combination of mandated minutes for all content areas plus the schools instructional day length leaves limited room, particularly in upper elementary grades. Superintendent Brittetta Connor said the district balances mandates and best practices and that teachers sometimes use nonmandated time to add extra activity for celebration or motivation.

Discussion vs. decisions
- Discussion: Board members expressed a desire to expand unstructured play time where feasible and emphasized teacher well-being and classroom pacing as factors.
- Direction: Staff said they would review master schedules again and noted the district had already adjusted staffing allocation and master-scheduling guidance last year to meet requirements.
- Formal action: No new policy was adopted at the workshop.

Ending: Board members praised work on scheduling and urged continued review to see whether additional recess minutes can be added without disrupting required instructional minutes.","District staff said they have changed master-schedule guidance and staffing allocations so elementary schools can meet Florida's statutory requirement of 20 minutes of daily recess and 150 minutes of PE per week.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sarasota district outlines facilities, fleet and technology initiatives; board to consider updated impact-fee study

Sarasota County Schools updates student progression plan, adds digital academic intervention plan tied to Focus SIS

Sarasota expands early learning and student-support teams; district launches VPK classrooms, boosts mental-health staffing and school health services

Board hears how Sarasota schools will meet K–5 recess and PE statutory minutes; principals given scheduling guidance and added staff