SCS Board Work Session | Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - 11:30a

The Sarasota Schools Board Work Session held on July 14, 2026, focused extensively on the district's mental health allocation plan for the upcoming school year, including staffing, community partnerships, and support tiers for students. The board discussed the importance of sustaining mental health personnel funded through various allocations and grants, and the challenges of maintaining these positions long-term. Additionally, the board reviewed several budget-related proposals to address financial pressures, including recommended increases in student meal prices, facility rental rates, and fingerprinting fees for volunteers and employees to offset rising costs and maintain program solvency. The board also considered potential future athletic participation fees. The session included detailed discussions on data-driven academic performance improvements, particularly for lower quartile and at-risk students, and highlighted significant gains in school grades and graduation rates. Charter school performance concerns were raised, with the board noting statutory authority to initiate closure processes for persistently underperforming schools. Overall, the meeting combined procurement-related budget decisions with strategic planning for student support services and academic achievement.