Board’s shift to 10 a.m. meetings draws student and parent criticism for limiting participation

Several student speakers and parents told the Sarasota County School Board that the shift of regular meeting start times to 10 a.m. has effectively barred many students and working families from participating in public comment.

“My name is Yodani Del Rosario, and I'm a junior at Booker High School. Recently, the time change for the school board meetings was changed to 10 a.m. On paper, it might seem like not a big deal, but in practice, it completely changes who gets to be part of the conversation,” Yodani Del Rosario said, describing how daytime meetings conflict with class schedules.

Multiple students said they had to sign out of school to attend the meeting because the 10 a.m. start time conflicts with instruction time. Speakers and parents argued the previous evening meeting time allowed broader public participation, especially from working parents, and that daytime meetings privilege those who can step away from jobs or daytime responsibilities.

Board members acknowledged the accessibility concerns and said the district must address attendance policies and student participation if daytime meetings continue. Board member Barker said she opposed regular 10 a.m. meetings and suggested the district discuss attendance allowances and other ways to facilitate student participation. Board members also noted there is no single meeting time that fits every schedule and promised to keep improving public access through streaming and community meetings.

No change to the meeting schedule was adopted at this session; board members said they would revisit implementation details and district attendance practices to reduce barriers to public participation.