Sarasota school board votes 3–2 to advertise tighter attendance policy after public outcry over midyear timing
Summary
After hours of public comment urging delay and greater transparency, the Sarasota County School Board voted 3–2 on Dec. 16 to advertise revisions to Policy 5.4 (student attendance) for public feedback; the board emphasized teacher discretion for makeup work and said final adoption will come later.
The Sarasota County School Board voted to advertise a revised student attendance policy (Policy 5.4) after extended public comment and internal debate.
Chair Ziegler opened discussion on the advertised changes, which consolidate attendance rules and explicitly state a three-day timeline for parents to submit absence documentation. During the hearing, multiple community members asked the board to delay any substantive implementation until the next school year and to provide clearer, district-wide communication about how to submit absence notes. Student and parent speakers said the change felt abrupt midterm and during the holidays.
Supporters on the dais said the revision merely centralizes existing practices and improves clarity. "We're not voting to implement the policy today," Vice Chair Barker said during debate; the board framed the Dec. 16 vote as moving the policy to a public-advertisement stage required by procedure. Superintendent Connor and staff explained the district uses a statewide platform (EdCredible) to provide password-protected access to instructional materials and noted the district now allows electronic submission of absence notes through the new student information system.
Opponents argued the timing and implementation details risk penalizing students who participate in civic activities, travel teams, religious observances and other extracurriculars. Public commenters asked the board to keep the prior five-day practice or at least delay the change. As one student said, "This change may seem small, but for families it creates a significant burden" (Anise Joseph).
The board conducted a voice vote and later a roll-call that recorded three ayes (Miss Rose, Miss Marinelli and Chair Ziegler) and two no votes (Miss Barker and Mr. Edwards). The advertisement allows a formal public-comment period and does not finalize adoption. If approved for final adoption at a later meeting, the policy would include provisions that leave makeup-work credit to teacher discretion.
Next steps: the policy will be advertised for feedback; the board will consider final adoption at a subsequent meeting after public comment and any edits.
