Sarasota Schools Propose Changes to Counter Charter School Co-location

District Response to Charter School Proposals

• 🏫 Sarasota County Schools is developing a significant proposal to reshape a dozen campuses and prevent a perceived "hostile takeover" by charter school operators.
• ⚠️ This initiative is a direct response to a new state law enabling charter schools to co-locate in underutilized public schools.

Charter School Co-location Concerns

• 🎯 A Miami-based charter operator, Mater Academy, has sent letters seeking to co-locate in three Sarasota County schools.
• 📉 Critics, including a Sarasota County School Board member, describe this effort as a "hostile takeover" that could drain resources from public schools.
• 🗣️ Xander Morates of Ciánce (Fight for Public Education) is actively opposing these co-location efforts, emphasizing the protection of public education.

Proposed District Solutions

• 💡 Superintendent Terry Connor is preparing changes to better utilize school facilities, aiming to avoid sharing them with charter schools.
• 🏢 The plan includes repurposing unused buildings and classrooms for district offices, childcare, and community partnerships.
• 📚 Development of K-8 schools is also proposed for several underenrolled elementary campuses.

Underlying Enrollment Issues

• 📈 Some school board members suggest the district should focus more on its own declining enrollment problems, which they believe are driving students away from public education.
• ❓ The question of why schools are losing enrollment remains a point of concern, with a lack of clear answers noted.