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East County | Schools

Mills says the district will close out the fiscal year with at least $8 million in reserves — a number that could shrink based on how much the district loses as a consequence of two state audits.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 10, 2014
Superintendent meets with state education commissioner

Manatee County School District Superintendent Rick Mills is in Tallahassee today to meet with Pam Stewart, Florida Department of Education commissioner, in his bid to reduce costs owed to the state.

  • East County
  • News
Sandy Russell with her 2-year-old son, Everett
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Gene Witt Elementary Winter Carnival

Gene Witt Elementary School students experienced a day of fun and games at the school's annual Winter Carnival Feb. 8.

  • East County
  • Schools
Brooke Price, Aly Wilson and Samantha Dautorio
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Bashaw Father/Daughter Dance

Fathers and daughters enjoyed a dance Feb. 7 at Bashaw Elementary School.

  • East County
  • Schools
Madison Hartwig and Christian Mark join a conga line.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Fairy Tale Ball

Fathers and daughters at Braden River Elementary School danced the night away at a Fairy Tale Ball Feb. 7.

  • East County
  • News
Kevin Berkenbusch, Alec Puhalovich, Ashlyn Falahee and Bryan Dexter found a seat on the back of a pickup truck.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: LRHS Sadie Hawkins

Lakewood Ranch High School's Student Government Association hosted its first Sadie Hawkins dance Feb. 7.

  • East County
  • News
Students of USF's College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership, hosted an event to celebrate the school's newest addition — a culinary lab on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 6, 2014
USF culinary lab officially opens to the public

Faculty and students of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, and the Lakewood Ranch community, officially cut the ribbon on the school's new Culinary Innovation Lab Feb. 5.

  • East County
  • Schools
Seven-year-old Dylan McClintock enjoys eggs with his grandfather Don Gilmore.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Grandparents' Breakfast at Freedom Elementary

Freedom Elementary students brought their grandparents to school to socialize and munch on an early morning meal, for the Grandparents' Breakfast event Feb. 5.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Chinese exchange students Jeffrey Qiu, Cheyenne Zhang, Liz Zhuo, Frank Liao and Tina Shibano visited students at the academy's lower school. They are pictured with Claire Maag, Luca Marino and Johnny Robinson, front row.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 5, 2014
Chinese students glean lessons from visit

Five teenagers from Beijing contrast the teaching style at ODA with schools back home.

  • East County
  • Schools
Christopher, Luciana and Matthew Silva prepare to eat.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 1, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Tara Principal Breakfast

Tara Elementary School celebrated 96 students who earned straight A's, during a principal's breakfast Jan. 31.

  • East County
  • News
Tyler Shanahan with his mom, Katina, joins Martha Hall and her children, Valeria and Alejandro Marquez.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 1, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Pirate Run

East County residents sported their pirate cheer Feb. 1, during the second annual Pirate 5K/10K Walk Run.

  • East County
  • Sports
Monica, Ty, 7, and Kevin Moore feast on a pancake breakfast at Tara Elementary School. The event awarded Tara's 90 students who earned straight A's. Principal Steve Royce even cooked the pancakes.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 31, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Pancake Prize

PHOTO GALLERY: Pancake Prize

  • East County
  • Schools
Representatives from every public school and charter school in Manatee County will be at the fair to discuss educational programs, academies and opportunities.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 27, 2014
Information fair signals start of School Choice

Manatee County Public School District's School Choice enrollment period officially begins Jan. 28, but parents can also sign up their students at a School Information Fair Monday night.

  • East County
  • Schools
Zaid Harakat, 10, shows off his battle skills.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 26, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Tara Winter Carnival

Families at Tara Elementary School enjoyed an evening of food, inflatables and carnival-style games Jan. 24, during the school's winter carnival event. Families even had a chance to play in the snow.

  • East County
  • Schools
Eunice Garcia, a senior at Manatee School for the Arts, enjoys photography as a hobby, but wants to pursue a medical career.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 25, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Heart & Soul Gala

The Manatee Education Foundation hosted the seventh annual 2014 Heart & Soul Gala and Live Art Auction Jan. 25 at Polo Grill. Student artists were recognized for their work and received scholarships ranging from $150 to $1,500 and other gifts.

  • East County
  • News
Fourth-grader Lizett Hernandez read under the light.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 23, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: BRE Literacy Wonderland

Braden River Elementary School offered a warm reading place at its first Literacy Wonderland event, Jan. 23.

  • East County
  • News
The forums, new this school year, are a way for the district to promote transparency.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 22, 2014
District hosts community engagement forum

The Manatee County School District rolls out its second community engagement forum tonight, in a meeting of district staff and the public.

  • East County
  • News
Amanda Sebastiano Nine-year-old Zoey Lipton cares for fruits and vegetables located inside EarthBoxes at B.D. Gullett Elementary School.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 22, 2014
Students use green thumbs

Gullett students learn to care for plants using EarthBoxes.

  • East County
  • Schools
District Five Commissioner Vanessa Baugh reads "The Kissing Hand" to Karen Krienen and Debbie Frazzoni's class.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 15, 2014
Commissioner leads story time

District Five Commissioner Vanessa Baugh read stories to students Jan. 14 at Kiddie Academy, as part of Celebrate Literacy Week.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 15, 2014
Superintendent builds support for leniency

Although the Manatee County School District tops the state's list regarding poor recordkeeping and overspending, district reps received compliments on their fiscal recovery plans.

  • East County
  • News
Lawmakers praised Superintendent Rick Mills for providing a thorough response to state audits and expressed confidence in his ability to move the district forward.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 13, 2014
Superintendent gains support in Tallahassee

In a bid to reduce fines owed to the state, Manatee County School District Superintendent Rick Mills impressed legislators with his response to audit findings.

  • East County
  • Schools
The inaugural class of students enrolled in the program will be at the school today for orientation, beginning at 10 a.m.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 6, 2014
LECOM unveils distance education program

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) will officially launch its Masters in Health Services Administration distance education program today when students come on campus for orientation.

  • East County
  • Schools
  • By East County students
  • December 24, 2013
Dear Santa

Students at East County schools have been busy the last few weeks as they prepare their Christmas wish lists for Santa Claus. Here is a sampling of letters students shared with the East County Observer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
(Front) Nicholas Colacci, Dylan Bennett and Cade Saalmann felt the music.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 19, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River Middle School SnowComing

Braden River Middle School held a SnowComing dance Dec. 19. Students danced the night away in the school cafeteria.

  • East County
  • Schools
This year, five school districts of more than 400 applicants were awarded funds.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 19, 2013
School district fails to win money for STEM grant

For the second year in a row, the Manatee County School District fell just short to win federal funding for a grant to fund a plan to implement science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) labs in elementary schools.

  • East County
  • News
Calista Hidalgo as Snow White
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 18, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Gullett Elementary's 'A Snow White Christmas'

B.D. Gullett Elementary School fifth grade students performed their version of "A Snow White Christmas", Dec. 17. Student actors and actresses performed seven scenes, and choir members sang songs.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River and Lakewood Ranch High Schools both received an “A” for the second year in a row.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 18, 2013
East County high schools get 'A' grades

Braden River and Lakewood Ranch High Schools earned 'A' grades from the state in the 2013 High School Accountability Grades released today by the Florida Department of Education.

  • East County
  • Schools
After the workshop, Superintendent Rick Mills will post his action plan to the district’s website for public viewing, based on his staff’s findings.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 18, 2013
School board to discuss response to audits

The Manatee County School Board will discuss corrective actions related to two state audits from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, during a special workshop.

  • East County
  • Schools
Hannah Van Hise plays the part of Mrs. Claus.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 13, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Willis' 'December in Our Town'

Third-grade students at Willis Elementary School welcomed the holiday season with a special musical show, "December in Our Town," Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.

  • East County
  • News
The student, who was allegedly dragged from a classroom by the arm and shoulder, was not injured.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 13, 2013
Substitute teacher charged with child abuse

A Nolan Middle School substitute teacher was arrested Thursday for allegedly abusing a 13-year-old student at the school.

  • East County
  • Schools
The $1.9 figure from the new report consists primarily of questioned costs from the 2012-13 year.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 12, 2013
Second state audit brings more costs to school district

A second report from the state's Auditor General's Office released this morning - this one on federal, grant-funded programs - revealed the Manatee County School District could see a $1.9 million reduction in its general fund balance.

  • East County
  • Schools
Gabby Alfonso, Alison Volpe, Halee Prater and Kieu Nguyen welcome guests and provide nametags.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 11, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Empty Bowls

Students in Braden River Middle School's Junior National Honor Society program welcomed guests to reflect on poverty, during the organization's annual Empty Bowls event Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • News
At today’s 3 p.m. workshop, 215 Manatee Avenue W., Manatee County School District staff will present the report’s findings to the board.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 10, 2013
School board hosts workshop on state audit report

The Manatee County School Board hosts a workshop today to talk about a report from the state's Auditor General's Office that found misuse of funds and lack of controls during the 2012-13 school year.

  • East County
  • News
Marie Tannus, of Pampered Chef, shares about her products with Carolyn Talbot.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Willis Carnival

Willis Elementary School today hosted a winter carnival for its families and the public.

  • East County
  • News
Principal Selenia Quinones has been on paid administrative leave from Imagine School since Nov. 4.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 4, 2013
UPDATED: Imagine School principal on paid leave

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office has recommended to the state that Selenia Quinones be charged with failure to report child abuse.

  • East County
  • Schools
The state audit began in March and concluded with the release of the report November 25.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 4, 2013
State report threatens school district recovery

The Manatee County School District could see as much as a $7.2 million reduction in its general fund balance as a consequence of a report from the state Auditor General's Office.

  • East County
  • Schools
If the Manatee County School District was awarded the grant, it would fund a plan to implement STEM labs in elementary schools.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • November 25, 2013
School District finalist for grant

The Manatee County School District is a finalist for a 'Race to the Top' grant, the U.S. Department of Education announced Friday.

  • East County
  • News
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