East County schools might receive makeovers

The Manatee County School District is turning its attention to East County.

At its meeting at 5:45 p.m. April 14, the School Board will discuss plans to renovate and repair portions of schools out east. 

William H. Bashaw, Braden River and Tara elementary schools are on the board's docket as potential projects. Bashaw may receive expanded kitchen, cafeteria, office, clinic, teacher planning and school storage areas, and upgraded ceiling tiles and new carpeting throughout the school.

Officials also plan to conduct a traffic flow and parking study to best determine how to filter vehicles in and out of the school.

Tara Elementary's drainage system needs to be replaced, and Braden River Elementary and Middle schools may receive new asphalt on the roads that lead in to the school.

The adjacent schools, which were constructed in 1988 and 1991, have roads as old as they are.

No final prices for the projects have been released, yet, and are still to be determined, officials cited in contract documents.

The meeting will follow a School Board workshop, from 2 to 5 p.m. Workshop items include an overview of the district's financial forecast, including specific projects the district hopes to accomplish, should it receive additional means of revenue.

Other items of interest slated for tonight's meeting include a decision on whether the district will provide free breakfast countywide to all grade levels — an estimated annual cost of $245, 889.77.

The district has been providing free breakfast to public school students for the last few months, and reports show, the students are biting on the idea. Thirty percent of county elementary school students accepted the free breakfast, along with 24% of middle schoolers and 14% of high school students, according to a survey taken in March.

To view the School Board's agenda, visit http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/agenda/REVISED%2004-14-15%20-%20April%2014,%202015%20-%20Regular%20Meeting%20on%20Tuesday,%20April%2014,%202015/27A78751-C00E-43BC-A760-CBFFF1C605EAAgenda.htm.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].