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Speakers praise McIntosh Middle School’s campus, agriscience and performing-arts opportunities
Summary
Multiple public commenters highlighted McIntosh Middle School’s more-than-10-acre campus, the HAWKS outdoor program, agriscience classes and performing-arts offerings as reasons families should consider the school.
Commenters at a Sarasota County public meeting described McIntosh Middle School as having extensive outdoor space and a range of hands-on academic and arts programs that they said support student engagement and readiness for high school.
Speakers emphasized the school’s large campus and specialized programs. "Personally, I think McIntosh Middle School is the best kept secret here in Sarasota County," Commenter 1 said, adding that the school has "a beautiful campus." Commenter 2 said the campus includes "more than 10 acres that our HAWKS program utilizes," enabling outdoor lessons. Commenter 3 mentioned agriscience work led by "Mr. Guatney," and said students can "grow things" as part of that curriculum.
Commenters described a mix of instructional approaches at the school. "We provide them many different opportunities to learn in different ways," Commenter 4 said, listing hands-on, visual and practical learning options. Commenter 5 said outdoor, experiential lessons make material easier to learn and more memorable. Several speakers highlighted performing-arts offerings: "The performing arts program here consists, we have chorus, band, orchestra, and then we also have drama," Commenter 6 said, adding that students can join without prior experience.
Speakers also described pathways toward high school programs and credits. Commenter 1 said some students who attended McIntosh have been able to apply to the Riverview High School International Baccalaureate program and the ACE program at Sarasota High School, and that "offering those high school credit classes allows students to really see what high school is about and prepare them before they even step foot on a high school campus." Commenter 3 summarized a school motto as "think, explore, try, do," and Commenter 7 said families will "feel supported" by the school’s staff.
The remarks were presented as personal endorsements during the public-comments portion of the meeting; no formal actions or votes concerning the school appeared on the record. The speakers focused on program features and student experience rather than on specific budget, staffing or policy changes.
