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East County | Schools

Students from Cypress Ridge Elementary School talk with Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School students at the regional competition. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 21, 2021
Robotics on rise in Lakewood Ranch

Five Lakewood Ranch elementary school teams compete at regional VEX robotics competition.

  • East County
  • News
New principals will be coming to Braden River High School and William H. Bashaw Elementary School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 14, 2021
Two East County schools — Braden River High and Bashaw Elementary — have new principals

The School District of Manatee County names its new administrators.

  • East County
  • News
Pirates Coach Stephanie Smith, Braden River senior O'Mariah Gordon and Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball Coach Jeremy Schiller celebrate Gordon's overall 3-point contest win. Gordon made 13 shots in one minute in the finals.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 14, 2021
One final encore for Braden River's Gordon

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn

  • East County
  • Sports
Brianna Schepers, a sophomore in the Braden River High School JV winter guard, uses a rifle during the guard's "Little Sparrow" performance. Courtesy photo by Chris Stratford.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 14, 2021
Winter guards earn medals in east Bradenton

Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools win awards at Federation of Colorguards Circuit State Championships.

  • East County
  • News
Members of the Braden River High School Pirate Battalion Drill Team celebrate winning their fifth district championship in a row. The team will now move onto state. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
Braden River High School knows its drill

Braden River High School Pirate Battalion Drill Team wins district championship for fifth year in a row and heads to state.

  • East County
  • News
Cheryl Bulfin, a third grade teacher, guides her students through a lesson. All teachers receive a $5,201 supplement from the millage. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
School District of Manatee County officials — 1 mill made huge difference

School District of Manatee County says 2018 1-mill property tax referendum was crucial.

  • East County
  • News
Senior Kora Turner and junior Matthew Boudreau celebrate the orienteering's first state championship. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
Run to victory for Lakewood Ranch High

Lakewood Ranch High School JROTC's orienteering team takes home its first state championship.

  • East County
  • News
Dave Miner, a former member of the School Board of Manatee County, and Scott Hopes, a member of the board, celebrate the opening of Dr. Mona Jain Middle School. Hopes says part of a school member's job is attending school events.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
What's next for School Board of Manatee County?

Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint a Manatee County resident to replace Scott Hopes, the District 4 representative for the School Board of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
Spirits rise at ODA

The Out-of-Door Academy celebrates school spirit through a day of competitions.

  • East County
  • News
David Mahler, the head of school at the Out-of-Door Academy, will resign after 17 years with the school. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 1, 2021
ODA head of school, who oversees Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota campuses, resigns

David Mahler, the head of school at the Out-of-Door-Academy, announces resignation.

  • East County
  • News
Suzanne Aguirre, a Lakewood Ranch High senior, conducts diabetic testing on Alexis McClintock, a Braden River High senior. The seniors appreciate getting a head start on their nursing courses through MTC's dual enrollment program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 31, 2021
Ahead of the game in Manatee County

MTC dual enrollment programs offer high school students advanced opportunities.

  • East County
  • News
Charter Schools USA is working with Southwest Charter Foundation to potentially open Lakewood Ranch Charter Academy in August 2022 if the School Board of Manatee County approves the application.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 31, 2021
New charter school proposed in Lakewood Ranch

If approved, Lakewood Ranch Charter Academy could open in August 2022.

  • East County
  • News
Principal Todd Richardson volunteers to kiss a pig to help the school raise more than $30,000. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 31, 2021
Kid at heart in Lakewood Ranch

Gullett Elementary principal hogs the attention while engaging his students and staff.

  • East County
  • News
Shamar Beatty points to his family in the stands while walking across the field with his diploma. His sash and mask has photos of memories from his time at Lakewood Ranch High School. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Venue change alters graduation dates for Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools

School District of Manatee County high schools push back graduation dates after switch to LECOM Park.

  • East County
  • News
Olivya Johns, Jacsyn Hockenbury and Emily Garcia kick off the start of "Little Shop of Horrors."
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Little shop of funding horrors in east Bradenton

Braden River and Lakewood Ranch high school theater programs struggle to stay afloat financially during pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Registered Nurse Debbie Bottiger prepares a COVID-19 vaccine for a School District of Manatee County employee. The district has worked with community partners to provide more than 5,000 vaccines to its more than 6,000 employees.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Vaccines a relief for Manatee County educators

The School District of Manatee County works with community partners to get its employees vaccinated.

  • East County
  • News
R. Dan Nolan Middle School TSA members Emma Hubley, Callum Wilford and Virginia Frisbie celebrate their first place win for Leadership Strategies. Courtesy of Nadine Anderson.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
TSA effort A-OK in east Bradenton

East Bradenton schools' TSA teams see success at state conference despite challenges due to COVID-19.

  • East County
  • News
The School District of Manatee County's Food and Nutrition Services Department will provide free meals for children during spring break.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 11, 2021
School District of Manatee County offers free meals during spring break

Manatee County children can pickup meals at Freedom Elementary and Haile Middle during spring break.

  • East County
  • News
Layden Kraut, Sophia Marzonie and Isabella Moncion, first graders at B.D. Gullett Elementary School are all used to using laptops. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 10, 2021
A year of COVID-19: Schools adapt in east Bradenton

Parents, teachers say the School District of Manatee County has navigated the pandemic well.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High School graduate Chloe Carnegie walks across the field with her diploma during the school's graduation ceremony at LECOM Park in 2020.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 9, 2021
School Board of Manatee County approves graduation date changes

Manatee County high school graduations will take place in the first week of June.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High School theater students will perform in a virtual cabaret March 5.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 4, 2021
Ready to dazzle virtually in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch High School theater students host virtual cabaret show.

  • East County
  • News
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, works with Ted Lindenberg, the director of Books for Kids, to find ways for the program to continue to support students in the district. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 3, 2021
Books for Kids adds new chapter in Manatee County

The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch's Books for Kids program adds mentoring program to help students.

  • East County
  • News
Madelyn Hall and Patrick Danielcak, first graders at B.D. Gullett Elementary School use laptops to learn how to access digital books from the public library. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 3, 2021
A Chromebook on every desk in Manatee County

The School District of Manatee County begins a 5-year plan to assure its students have the technology to succeed.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 1, 2021
School District of Manatee County celebrates Champions of Education

The School District of Manatee County kicks off a two-week celebration to show appreciation for its more than 6,000 employees.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 27, 2021
Pressure builds as WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession enters final round

Colin Morikawa holds a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday.

  • East County
  • Sports
Medical Assisting students Esbeydi Penaloza and Jackie Pizano go through how to teach someone how to use a walker.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 24, 2021
Healthcare workers on the way in Manatee County

Manatee Technical College goes to hybrid programs to meet increasing healthcare industry needs.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota's Sean Ball is named the new head of upper school at The Out-of-Door Academy.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 24, 2021
Decades of impact at ODA

Longtime administrator/teacher Sean Ball is named the Out-of-Door Academy's new head of upper school in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Drew Weaver (left) and David Lingmerth (center) walk alongside their caddies to find their balls on the No. 18 hole.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 18, 2021
Three golfers tied for lead after day one of 2021 Suncoast Classic

Last year's winner is still within striking distance.

  • East County
  • Sports
Gary Sawyer, the director of transportation and vehicle maintenance for the School District of Manatee County, says an electric bus could be an exciting adventure and learning experience for the district. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 17, 2021
Driven to be green in Manatee County

The School District of Manatee County hopes to receive funding for an electric bus.

  • East County
  • News
The entrance to Braden River Middle School will look different after the school's renovation and addition is complete. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 17, 2021
Anticipation builds for Braden River Middle project

Braden River Middle School renovation and addition project moves forward.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River Elementary School has a new kindness garden where students can leave a kindness rock or take a kindness rock and share it with others. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 10, 2021
Kindness grows with new garden in Lakewood Ranch

Braden River Elementary invites students to take a rock or leave a rock to spread kindness.

  • East County
  • News
Registered Nurse Debbie Bottiger prepares a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for a School District of Manatee County employee. The district worked with MCR Health to provide about 300 vaccines to district employees who were at least 65.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 10, 2021
Manatee County schools' safety layers increase

Manatee County senior teacher vaccinations add another level of safety for district on campus.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 10, 2021
Blanketed with kindness in Lakewood Ranch

The Out-of-Door Academy students raise money to donate blankets to shelters in Sarasota as part of the Blankets of Hope project.

  • East County
  • News
Dan Powers, along with Katie Powers, Robert Powers, Rebecca Powers, Cory Coyner, Shayleen Coyner and Scott Coyner, are the first to walk along the Mustang Memorial Walk.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 3, 2021
A walk to remember in Lakewood Ranch

Mustang Memorial Walk at Lakewood Ranch High School was dedicated in honor of boys who died in car accident.

  • East County
  • News
School zone signs have been replaced with school entrance signs, meaning cars no longer have to slow to 20 miles per hour when the yellow light flashes.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 3, 2021
Confusion grips modified school zone in Lakewood Ranch

Modification of the school zone on S.R. 70 near Braden River Elementary School causes confusion.

  • East County
  • News
Every third grade teacher has made their new classroom their own. Joanne Sollazzo decorated hers with a cow theme. The teachers were able to move into the new addition over winter break.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 27, 2021
Teachers thrilled with Gene Witt addition

Eight classroom addition increases teaching opportunities at Gene Witt Elementary.

  • East County
  • News
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  • April 1, 2026
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John Saputo (left), Denise Saputo (top center), Lorraine Vitale (right) and Dick Vitale (bottom center) at the "March Mayhem" fundraiser and Elite Eight watch party. The Saputos were the hosts March 28 at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.
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