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Schools

Fifth graders Kaitlyn Do, R.J. Griffis, Kinley Chupp and Micah French celebrate their first place win. They'll move on to compete against winners from seven other elementary schools in the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 4, 2023
Tara Elementary students harvest ideas at Fruits and Veggies Day

The elementary school in Bradenton showcases the ingenuity of fourth and fifth graders.

  • East County
  • Schools
Parrish Community High School resumes classes after two lockdowns inadvertently initiated by medical emergencies on campus two days in a row.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 2, 2023
Parrish Community High resumes classes after two lockdowns

The School District of Manatee County says that the lockdowns were triggered by "medical emergencies."

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High School senior Christian Bell is nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy, and senior Terrence Tysall is nominated to the U.S. Naval and Air Force academies.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 1, 2023
Two Manatee students receive military service academy nominations

Braden River High seniors Christian Bell and Terrence Tysall hope to attend the U.S. Naval Academy with their nominations from U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.

  • East County
  • Schools
The media center in R. Dan Nolan Middle School, along with every other media center in the School District of Manatee County, has had its books vetted and approved. Now schools are working on vetting books in classroom libraries.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 31, 2023
Manatee schools continue book-vetting for state compliance

Some books brought into Manatee County classrooms by teachers face the possibility of being deemed inappropriate after a new Florida law has increased the scrutiny on reading material.

  • East County
  • Schools
Steve Koenig revealed his superman shirt under his button-down as he asks Southside Elementary students what their favorite superhero is.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 30, 2023
Southside Elementary invites Holocaust survivors to speak

The Sarasota elementary school hosted two guest speakers to share their stories of the Holocaust on Jan. 27.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bay Haven Elementary School for Basics Plus fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom to read for story time.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 25, 2023
Bay Haven school shares story time with the mayor

Fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tammy Sawmelle, the dean of nursing for the State College of Florida, shows how a simulation works. Nursing students are able to go through simulations in SCF's neonatal unit, birthing suite, pediatric ICU, medical ICU, trauma ICU, surgical ICU, neuro ICU and cardiovascular ICU.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 24, 2023
SCF Manatee-Sarasota grows nursing program

State College of Florida will be able to accept 350 students into its programs as a result of $1.1 million raised through community partnerships and matched by the state legislature.

  • East County
  • Schools
Freedom Elementary School's Jenessa Bunker, Jakob Flemming, Camila Aviles-Pagan and Mya Barrett lead the Autrey All Stars onto the track.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 20, 2023
Olympian visits east Bradenton elementary during Fun Run

Richard Thompson, a four-time Olympian shares a message of encouragement, with students before they begin their run.

  • East County
  • Schools
Bucky demonstrates how Newton's Laws work in Circus Arts Conservatory's Circus Machine.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 20, 2023
Sailor Circus mixes science and whimsy

Sarasota and Manatee students learned while laughing at the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Education Outreach show.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Timothy Ferguson has taught music for 20 years in New York and Florida.
  • By Observer Staff
  • January 19, 2023
Garden Elementary's Ferguson is Sarasota's top teacher

The music instructor will represent the school district as nominee for the statewide recognition.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The upper school at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy is expected to be open by the fall 2023 semester.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 18, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Prep's upper school begins to take shape

As enrollment opens for kindergarten through seventh grades and ninth and 10th grades, construction continues on the upper school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Risen Savior Lutheran Church Pastor Caleb Free and Jodi Batsch, an elementary administrator for Risen Savior Academy, are excited to welcome kindergartners to the academy's new elementary school.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 17, 2023
Risen Savior Lutheran Church to add kindergarten in 2023-24

The addition of kindergarten is the first step in the expansion of Lakewood Ranch's Risen Savior Academy to include an elementary school.

  • East County
  • Schools
The wondrous Cleo is a bearded dragon who teaches seventh grade students the responsibilities of caring for a reptile while incorporating the science of aquaculture.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 12, 2023
Classroom pets play key role in school’s success story

Sarasota School of the Arts and Sciences' animals bring a sense of calm to the classroom alongside a unique learning opportunity.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, will retire June 30. The School Board of Manatee County is in the beginning stages of the search for a new superintendent.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 12, 2023
Manatee School Board clashes on preference for new superintendent

Some board members say they would prefer a Florida resident while others say they are open to all candidates.

  • East County
  • Schools
Victoria Short, right, has been a teacher at William H. Bashaw Elementary School for 33 years. No matter the changes in education, she still loves teaching her students and building relationships with them.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 10, 2023
Veteran teachers talk about changes in education over three decades

From technology expectations to school culture, teachers have had to adjust the way they teach.

  • East County
  • Schools
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1
Former Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has drafted an updated noise ordinance for the city, which was approved by the City Commission on first reading.
  • December 11, 2025
City asks: How much noise is too much?
2
Construction of the Ritz-Carlton Residences II in The Quay. The project will add 78 condos to downtown.
  • December 11, 2025
Thousands of new residences are planned now and soon in downtown
3
Many holiday events took place the first weekend of December, but there are still plenty of opportunities for festive fun to have on the keys.
  • December 11, 2025
Catch Santa on Longboat Key before Christmas
4
A Kwanzaa display rests on the table during the event.
  • December 11, 2025
Kwanzaa celebration prepares community for the holiday
5
Sarasota city commissioners adopted an ordinance in 2021 to register and regulate vacation rentals in coastal communities.
  • December 11, 2025
Are complaints worth additional vacation rental oversight?

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