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Schools

Valeria Torres, Brian Guzman-Orozco, Yesica Mojena and Angelinna Lopez Ferrales practice letter sounds with Deb Petti.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 17, 2025
Classrooms are the highest priority as school district prepares 2025-26 budget

At a time when the Sarasota school district is facing financial difficulties, its CFO said the focus will be on the learning experience.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Lake Manatee K-8 is the first K-8 school in the School District of Manatee County to be built from the ground up with the purpose of serving elementary and middle school kids.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 16, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 school readies for opening day in Lakewood Ranch

Administrators, teachers and students are all beginning their voyage at the new school together.

  • East County
  • Schools
Shelter staff welcome visitors at Southside Elementary during Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 16, 2025
Converting schools into storm shelters is a carefully orchestrated operation

The Sarasota school district partners with the county to open the area's schools as hurricane shelters.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Students receive a meal in a school dining area.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 15, 2025
How Sarasota’s school district feeds thousands of students each day

Director of Food and Nutrition Services Sara Dan describes how Sarasota County Schools provides meals to a district that includes around 45,000 students — and ensures kids enjoy the product.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Daniel Bradshaw, the principal of Parrish Community High School, and Carol Ricks, the principal of Myakka City Elementary School, man the registration desk at Myakka City Elementary as it serves as a shelter during Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 15, 2025
What does it take to use Manatee schools as hurricane shelters?

In the midst of a severe storm, no one is turned away from the Manatee County schools that serve as shelters.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood ranch resident Mackenzie Shin, 10 and Sarasota resident Tyler Hover, 8, explore their love for marine biology at a camp presented by Little Medical School-Suncoast.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 15, 2025
ODA hosts Little Medical School-Suncoast marine biology camp

Campers learned about pollution, tracking turtles, the layers of the ocean and more.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School District of Manatee County owns and utilizes 4 electric buses: 2 that can go 130 miles on a charge and 2 that can go up to 200. Jamie Warrington, director of transportation for the district, says there are pros and cons in terms of the environment and efficiency.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 14, 2025
Manatee needs more testing on electric school buses

Cost and the ability to serve open areas are just some of the areas that need more exploration before the School District of Manatee County purchases additional electric buses.

  • East County
  • Schools
Construction takes place on Wellen Park High School on May 7.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 14, 2025
Construction projects are on the move in Sarasota's schools

As the school year approaches, the Sarasota school district progresses on several high-profile construction projects.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Lake Manatee K-8 is the biggest and most well known construction project. The elementary part of the school will open in August, with the middle school set to open the following school year.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 13, 2025
3 major construction projects are almost finished for Manatee schools

Along with the new Lake Manatee K-8, the other two projects will increase capacity for students and help with overcrowding.

  • East County
  • Schools
With the recent release of a live-action version of "Lilo & Stitch," Disney-themed backpacks fill store shelves. But so do bags with characters like Kuromi and My Melody from the company behind Hello Kitty.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 13, 2025
Accessories dominate 2025 back-to-school fashion

From the smash phenomenon of troll-like dolls strapped onto belts and bags to character-themed backpacks, accessories are how students are sharing their personal fashion sense this year.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 12, 2025
Sarasota continues experiment with electric school buses

As the district tests electric buses under a grant-funded initiative, leaders track factors like costs per mile and long-term maintenance needs.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Tim and Lauren Macri, co-owners of Beef 'O' Brady's Braden River, want the community's support to achieve their goal of providing gifts to Tara Elementary School teachers to help ease the burden of digging into their own pockets to provide for their students.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 12, 2025
Beef 'O' Brady's hosts second supply drive for Tara Elementary teachers

Community members can participate until July 31 to help ease the burden of teachers spending their own money for supplies.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Manatee County Tax Collector's Office east branch at 10705 Technology Terrace, Bradenton.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 9, 2025
Tax collector charges Manatee County schools $1.5M

The Manatee County tax collector decides to take a $1.5 million commission from the school district's referendum funds.

  • East County
  • Schools
Peter Hotaling, 13, represented R. Dan Nolan Middle School at the HOSA International Leadership Conference June 18-22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 4, 2025
Nolan Middle student places third at international HOSA event

Peter Hotaling, 13, entered his speech in the Health Career Preparation category against students from around the world.

  • East County
  • Schools
Manatee Technical College graduates Carmen Lesser, Kelsey Seeley and Maria Galante complete the applied cybersecurity program which takes seven months.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 27, 2025
MTC graduates reflect on their lessons at graduation

Graduates Hailey Lopez-Lanuza and Sophia Swim said they found their passions at MTC.

  • East County
  • Schools
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A group of 13 veterans and volunteers met at Ken Thompson Park on City Island where they embarked on kayaks for a guided tour of Sarasota Bay led by Wayne Douchkoff of Wayne Adventures and sponsored by Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.
  • January 13, 2026
Veterans enjoy peace of Sarasota Bay through guided kayak outing

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