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Schools

Eighth grader Mikayla Ross works with teacher Joseph Conner.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 4, 2025
Tutoring nonprofit helps raise students' success rates

Laurel Civic Association, which tutors Sarasota County children after school in addition to providing numerous other services, is currently planning to construct a new 48,000 square-foot facility.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Over the past 25 years at Braden River Middle School, Kathleen Brown has taught sixth and seventh grade math, U.S. History, and Civics. Her principal, Kimberlain Zenon, described her as a lifelong learner who is solution driven, tenacious, knowledgeable and collaborative.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 2, 2025
3 east Manatee school employees are finalists for excellence awards

Braden River Middle's Kathleen Brown, Braden River High's Clifford Dawson and Lakewood Ranch High's Kristen Martin are finalists for Manatee County's Excellence in Education Awards.

  • East County
  • Schools
Marfil Trejo, the command sergeant major for the Braden River High Raiders, crosses the rope bridge at the Florida High School JROTC Raider State Championship on Nov. 15.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 22, 2025
Braden River JROTC team wins state title

The team of eight boys and five girls win four of five events.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fourth grade students Liam Aikin, Tate Brase, Raymond Burdick and Madden Dabek will be fifth graders next year and will only have one class above them when sixth grade opens at Lake Manatee K-8.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 19, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 to open middle school in phases

With the new rezoning maps comes the decision to open only sixth grade in August instead of sixth, seventh and eighth all at once.

  • East County
  • Schools
SPD closed traffic outside Sarasota Military Academy Tuesday after a suspicious package was reported.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 18, 2025
Inert explosive devices investigated at Sarasota Military Academy

Sarasota police and outside bomb squad respond after a backpack with hollowed grenades are brought to the Sarasota Military Academy campus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ella Javier and Paityn Carr, sophomores who plays flute in the Braden River High School Marching Band, didn't let their nerves get the best of them at the FFCC Outdoor Championships, where they earned the title of Grand Champion.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 18, 2025
More marching band championships for Braden River High School

The Pirates were named the FFCC Grand Champion overall, the 3A Class Champion and the Best in Class for color guard and percussion.

  • East County
  • Schools
Manatee School District shares redrawn zoning maps, seeks feedback
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 17, 2025
Manatee School District shares redrawn zoning maps, seeks feedback

The zones for elementary, middle and K-8 schools will be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year, while high school rezoning begins 2027-2028.

  • East County
  • Schools
Laurie Breslin was named superintendent of the School District of Manatee County in August.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 16, 2025
Manatee School District welcomes a new leader

The new head of the School District of Manatee County brings a local flavor to the job.

  • East County
  • Schools
A second charter school company has sought campus space at Brookside Middle School in Sarasota.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 14, 2025
New Schools of Hope requests double up in Sarasota, Manatee

A second South Florida company seeks space and says it's casting a wide net for 2027-28 school year.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
During field trips at Mote Marine Laboratory, students are given the opportunity to see sea creatures up close and explore whether or not a career in science is for them.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 11, 2025
Freshwater education grants awarded to two East County schools

The Southwest Florida Water Management District presented $3,000 to Lakewood Ranch High School and $2,500 to Bashaw Elementary School.

  • East County
  • Schools
Alyssa Rico and her twin Andrea Rico, 11, stand beside crochet items that Andrea made.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 10, 2025
Fall festival at McIntosh Middle becomes more of a tradition

The annual Sarasota event featured games, a petting zoo, food trucks, local vendors and other offerings.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
At a Junior Achievement "Discovery Center'' in Tampa, elementary-aged students run a mock city.Two similar facilities are proposed to be set up at Emma Booker Elementary and Booker Middle schools in Sarasota.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 10, 2025
Sarasota school district sets in motion sweeping vision for future

Sarasota County Schools approves a plan to attract students and eliminate empty seats.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
This rendering offers a glimpse of the multi-building concept for the new high school slated for the corner of Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 7, 2025
Plans for a second high school in Lakewood Ranch debated due to traffic

Some Manatee County commissioners argued that Lorraine Road should be widened before adding more traffic to the area.

  • East County
  • Schools
Todd Henson, director of maintenance at the School District of Manatee County, said mold testing throughout the Lakewood Ranch High School campus will determine whether areas of concern are mold, dirt, mildew or something else.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 5, 2025
Mold concerns grow at Lakewood Ranch High

An industrial hygienist conducts a site visit to collect samples and gather feedback from teachers and students, who say exposure to mold has made them ill.

  • East County
  • Schools
Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor speaks on the district's plans to maximize utilization.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 4, 2025
Schools plan keeps Wilkinson open, creates new K-8 campuses

The "future-focused" plan also would create business learning centers at Booker elementary and middle schools.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
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Latest News

1
Debi and Mike O'Leary take a look at the tree.
  • December 6, 2025
Sarasota annual tree lighting takes place at Selby Five Points
2
Devin Mignery (center) prepares to take the snap during the FHSAA Class 2A state semifinal between Cardinal Mooney and Cocoa. The senior quarterback was inserted for junior Davin Davidson and helped usher the Cougars into the state championship.
  • December 6, 2025
Cardinal Mooney football headed to state championship
3
A rendering of Florida Studio Theatre's McGillicuddy Arts Plaza.
  • December 6, 2025
Florida Studio Theatre receives anonymous $1 million gift
4
Sarasota Police on Monday recovered a sunken, capsized boat from Hudson Bayou that had been swamped for more than three years.
  • December 6, 2025
Long-abandoned boat removed by Sarasota Police
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5
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota Concert Association presents the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

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