SCS Board Special Meeting and Work Session | Tuesday, May 5, 2025 - 10am

The Sarasota Schools Board held a special meeting and work session on May 5, 2025, focusing primarily on educational program updates and district planning. Key procurement-related discussions included the presentation of the Comprehensive Evidence-Based Reading Plan (SERP), highlighting investments in literacy coaches, curriculum purchases such as Read 180, and professional development initiatives funded partly through grants from the Barancik Foundation and Community Foundation. The board discussed staffing adjustments for literacy coaches and interventionists, emphasizing a data-driven, scaled approach to resource allocation. Additionally, the meeting covered updates to the Student Code of Conduct, including new policies on vaping interventions and behavior management, with training programs planned for staff. The board also reviewed redistricting scenarios related to the rebuilding of Garden Elementary School, discussing capacity planning and boundary adjustments to optimize school utilization. The redistricting process included community input and will proceed to public notice and board adoption. No specific contract awards or vendor selections were detailed, but grant funding and budget considerations for literacy and behavioral support programs were noted.