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Schools

The two finalists for the superintendent position are Misty Mathis, the executive director of curriculum and instruction for the Nassau County School District, and Laurie Breslin, the executive director of student support and family engagement for the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 20, 2025
Superintendent finalists share their goals for Manatee County School District

Laurie Breslin and Misty Mathis spent Aug. 18 being interviewed by the school board and meeting with community members.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School District of Manatee County proceeds with the full high school option with two academic buildings instead of one, which provides 2,000 student stations.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 18, 2025
New high school will be built in Lakewood Ranch

High School AAA is estimated to cost $200 million with the goal of opening in August 2027.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sarasota School Board Chair Tim Enos to resign
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 13, 2025
Sarasota School Board Chair Tim Enos to resign

The Sarasota County School District said District 5 representative Tim Enos had announced his resignation Aug. 13.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Laurie Breslin of the School District of Manatee County and Misty Mathis of Nassau County School District have been selected as finalists in the superintendent search.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 12, 2025
Manatee School Board selects two finalists for superintendent position

Laurie Breslin and Misty Mathis will meet the public Aug. 18 at Manatee Technical College.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ricardo Vasquez and Monica Rodriguez wish their daughter Kiali Vasquez good luck on her first day with a kiss. Kiali is determined to get straight A's.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 11, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 opens to students for the first time in Lakewood Ranch

On the first day of school, Principal Todd Richardson was eager to finally have students on campus.

  • East County
  • Schools
Martina Kandrachoff sees off her older sister, Guillermina, for her first day of school at Alta Vista Elementary School on Aug. 11.
    By
  • Dana Kampa, Ian Swaby
  • August 11, 2025
Recess is over as school begins in Sarasota

Southside Elementary and Alta Vista Elementary kids make their return for the 2025-26 school year.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch's Peter and Athena Hotaling enjoy using their phones to connect with friends and family, play games, use social media and more. With the new phone restrictions, they will have to save those things for after school hours.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 11, 2025
New phone policy will be 'learning curve' for Manatee students

Per House Bill 1105, elementary and middle school students will be required to turn off and stow away electronic devices during school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch residents Shaun Ulstad and Andrew Cordani are eager to start their senior year at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, which is one step closer to a potential future at MIT.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 8, 2025
One final year for Lakewood Ranch Prep seniors to chase their dreams

Shaun Ulstad and Andrew Cordani hope their work gains them acceptance into MIT.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sarasota School Board approves tentative budget and millage
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 7, 2025
Sarasota School Board approves tentative budget and millage

The school board approved a tentative budget of $1.35 billion and a proposed millage rate of 6.095 mils.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Fourth grade English language arts teacher Christine Harrington and fourth grade math and science teacher Riley Hamilton plan the display they will create on their bulletin board.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 6, 2025
Southside Elementary teachers prepare for the start of school

Creating bulletin board displays, providing bright spaces and assembling "Star Wars" memorabilia are a few of the ways teachers are preparing their classrooms.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The second option for High School AAA, with a $107,000,000 budget, would provide 1,000 student stations and 139,000 square feet of space. Later additions might include an auditorium, gymnasium and other athletic fields.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 5, 2025
School board to decide fate of new high school in Lakewood Ranch

Two options being studied for a high school at Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard, along with a possible expansion at Braden River High.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School Board of Sarasota County at a July 2025 meeting.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 31, 2025
Sarasota School Board votes to change discrimination policy language

The changes to the student code of conduct remove specifically enumerated protections for categories that include race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Sara Geary, the head of schools at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, and Patty Scerbo, a mother to two students who attend the school, look forward to potential improvements that may be funded by their share of the half penny tax.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 30, 2025
Charter schools eager to make use of sales tax dollars

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Manatee County charters will receive 50% of their proportionate share of anticipated revenue from the half-penny sales tax.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 28, 2025
Sarasota Superintendent: New school year promises exciting new beginnings

Terry Connor says the county will 'continue to strive to be the premier education provider that empowers every student to thrive in an ever-changing world.'

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Braden River High School students Cameron Brand, Jacob Zinkhan, Kylie Mohamed, Sophi Jo Branscomb and Jacqueline Lopez traveled around Ireland learning about agriculture and Irish culture along the way.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 27, 2025
Braden River FFA students study agriculture in Ireland

Their visits include a dairy farm and an "Irish racehorse experience."

  • East County
  • Schools
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Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
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