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School board adopts revised discrimination policy and student code of conduct after contentious debate
Summary
The Sarasota County School Board approved revisions to chapter 2 nondiscrimination policies and the district student code of conduct for 2025–26 by a 3–2 vote, replacing enumerated protected classes with broader 'all' language; opponents warned the change removes explicit protections for groups that have historically faced higher bullying rates.
The Sarasota County School Board on Sept. 16 approved revisions to chapter 2 policies on discrimination (policies 2.71, 2.71a, 2.73) and adopted the student code of conduct for the 2025–26 school year. Both measures passed by a 3–2 vote (yes: Bridget Ziegler, Karen Rose, Robin Marinelli; no: Liz Barker, Tom Edwards).
Supporters of the policy changes argued the district’s commitment is to “every student every day,” that the word “all” is inclusive, and that the district must focus on uniform treatment and proactive supports. Opponents and many public commenters said removing enumerated protections for groups such as LGBTQ+ students and others would leave vulnerable students without explicit policy protections and risk increased…
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