Sarasota school board hears air‑quality findings at Garden Elementary, approves $63.95 million construction contract to replace school

Sarasota County School Board members on Tuesday heard a detailed update on indoor air‑quality testing at Garden Elementary School and voted to hire a construction manager to replace the school.

The board approved an agreement with contractor John F. Swift with a guaranteed maximum price of $63,946,303.14 and a total project budget of $81,000,000. The vote was 4‑0.

The contract decision follows weeks of testing led by consultant Jim Risk, who told the board his team found a mix of issues at the campus, including moisture intrusion behind an exterior door in Room 138, visible discoloration and elevated biological agents in limited areas, and heavy dirt and discoloration inside air‑handler units and associated ductwork. Risk said the district has begun night and weekend cleaning of air units and ductwork and is replacing damaged materials where needed.

"I am the president of ORC Environmental Engineering… I personally led this assessment," Risk told the board, summarizing investigative steps that included interviews, moisture scans, destructive wall inspections and biological air sampling. He said the team found one exterior‑exposed…