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Sarasota superintendent says district will prioritize classrooms amid rising operational costs
Summary
Superintendent Terry Connor described statewide cost pressures — utilities, fuel, insurance — and said the district will prioritize classroom instruction, keep class sizes manageable and protect teacher supports while navigating budget constraints.
Terry Connor, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools, told the In Tune podcast that rising operational costs — from utilities and fuel to insurance and medical premiums — are forcing districts to make difficult prioritization choices. "When I talk to superintendents across the state, no 1 is immune to the rising operational costs..." he said, noting that the district uses strategic planning and stakeholder input to place the classroom first.
Connor emphasized that protecting teachers and investing in activities that improve teaching and learning remain top priorities. He described measures such as impact bargaining and other steps taken last year to mitigate costs and said he is confident the district's decisions will allow it to remain a premier educational provider in the state. The superintendent framed budget work as part of a larger effort to sustain instructional quality despite statewide fiscal pressures.
District leaders invited families to consult district communications for details on budget decisions and to stay engaged in upcoming planning conversations.
