School Board approves tentative budget

As the Sarasota County School Board convened to approve its tentative budget and new millage rates, discussion turned to social-emotional learning and whether the education method was promoted in the budget.

The board approved the proposed budget of about $1.55 billion, and the proposed millage of 2.932 in support of the budget, through votes of 4-1 for each. Board Chair Bridget Ziegler dissented on both items.

Following a July 24 meeting that saw the approval of the budget and millage for advertising, the budget was updated with revised language that excluded, among other wording, reference to social-emotional learning, a teaching method opposed by conservatives and prohibited at the state level.

The board also decided to hold a vote on the district’s strategic plan during its next meeting, which the district website shows as taking place Aug. 15, to ensure the language in that document is also up to date.

Budget Wording Altered

Superintendent Terry Connor and School Board Attorney Patrick Duggan said the budget had always been in compliance with state law, but the revisions brought outdated language into compliance as well.

The concern was a budget line item of about $57 million that was originally labeled as providing funding to “enhance social-emotional learning and supports provided to students to promote belonging, dignity and inclusion.” But that was revised, with those terms being eliminated.

Connor said the original verbiage reflected language from the draft strategic plan of September 2021, which had been incorporated into the software used to design the budget due to a request that the budget incorporate strategic planning goals. Revisions had also been made to the language in 2022.

Connor offered a breakdown of the funding assigned to that item, which is Strategy 2A in the section

“Personalize learning and accelerate growth for ALL students.”

He said it included $44.5 million in positions involving exceptional student education, English speakers of other languages, certified school counselors, regular classroom support and other items, along with $13 million for community service and other items.

Revisions were also made to other aspects of the budget, including an accompanying item in the same section, Strategy 2B, which Connor also highlighted.

AN EVOLVING PLAN

Some board members said the idea that the budget included socialemotional learning was “misinformation.”

While the majority of the board agreed to approve the budget, saying the approval was tentative and revisions were still possible, Ziegler said the district needed to ensure how the budget would be implemented in practice.

Vice Chair Karen Rose expressed confidence in the budget and process.

“I want our staff, teachers and schools to be able to go forward,” she said. “I have confidence that with the structures that Mr. Connor has already put in place in 10 days on accountability for our curriculum, and following the mandates that have come out through the legislature curriculum-wise, and a system of accountability, that we will be in compliance.”

Board member Tom Edwards said he was less concerned with the definition of social-emotional learning than he was with academic achievement.

Edwards concluded his comments by stating that while improvement was possible, he was satisfied with the overall results.

Ziegler said she wanted to look deeper into what the changed language means in practice.

“We’ve got to be very strategic and focused on this and be honest about it,” she said. “If I’m the only one up here that thinks that, so be it, but that’s not something that I’m going to walk back on. I’m going to continue to bring it up. I know it’s something we’ve talked about in the past, and it concerns me that we don’t really know what we’re changing.”

Board member Lisa Marinelli said she supported the budget due to its potential for revision.

“We know, I know there are issues, but it won’t be done overnight. All I’m asking is give this man time to find it, and get it cleaned up, because I believe he will,” she said.

Board member Tim Enos likewise said he supported the budget and millage, as the meeting concerned a tentative approval. He said the district still needed to ensure it was in full compliance with state law.

Rose also made a motion for the board to vote at the next meeting, shown on the district website as Aug.

Budget Revision

PERSONALIZE LEARNING AND ACCELERATE GROWTH FOR ALL STUDENTS, STRATEGY

2A: $57,554,861

15, on whether to place its strategic plan on hold. She said the plan still needed review to ensure it was up to date. The motion passed unanimously. Edwards said he was skeptical of the wording of the motion, but voted in its favor, saying part of the school district’s natural process involves revising the strategic plan.

THE PUBLIC SPEAKS

Some public commenters praised the district’s work on the budget, while others decried what they said was funding allocated to socialemotional learning.

“These are required expenditures in order to narrow the achievement gap and support our teachers and improve student outcomes, priorities that are shared by our entire community,” said Liz Barker. “As a community, we reject any attempt to distract, deflect and divide us as we work toward our shared mission and prioritization of student achievement and success.”

Juliet Barrett said the change of the language was not sufficient, calling some of the remaining programs “social-emotional learning.”

“In the mental health allocation plan, you use zones of regulations,

Original language: Enhance social-emotional learning and supports provided to students to promote belonging, dignity and inclusion. Revised language: Support and enhance learning by providing factual and objective instruction that is faithfully and efficiently delivered in accordance with state standards that includes instruction that supports mental and emotional health by encouraging students to overcome challenges through self-awareness and selfmanagement, responsible decision making, resiliency, relationship skills and conflict resolution, and understanding and respecting other viewpoints and backgrounds, in accordance with FS 1003.42 and FAC 6A-1.094124.

PERSONALIZE LEARNING AND ACCELERATE GROWTH FOR ALL STUDENTS, STRATEGY 2B: $7,356,862 use positive behavioral interventions and supports and you use WhyTry,” she said. “All of these are radical, SEL programs, and so you sit here and say, ‘Well, we could change the language,’ because people don’t like the way SEL sounds.”

Original language: Promote positive behavior through proactive education and restorative practices to promote belonging, dignity and inclusion.

Revised language: Promote positive behavior through education and practices that conform with state standards while promoting equitable principles and individual freedoms consistent with FS 1003.42(3) and FAC 6A-19.

THURSDAY, JULY 20

PARKING DISPUTE

12:15 p.m., 400 block of Central Avenue

Parking dispute: Having recently purchased property near the intersection of Apricot Avenue and Eighth Street, a business owner reported a parking dispute with the owner of a business across the street. The complainant said the other business owner was encouraging customers to park on his company’s property and that he wanted to install no-parking signs. An officer spoke with the offending party and informed her that the cars parked on the complainant’s property must be removed within 24 hours or the complainant has the right to have any of the vehicles towed. The complainant installed the signs. No further action was taken.

FRIDAY, JULY 21

HALLWAY HIJINKS

10:32 a.m., 1000 block of RitzCarlton Drive

Suspicious incident: A resident told an officer that on the previous day, two unknown females he suspected were in their late teens rang the doorbell to his residence and ran. The doorbell video recording shows the females giggling and twerking for the camera. One of them eventually rang the doorbell and both ran toward the exit stairwell. The man acknowledged that they did not appear to have any ill intent but was concerned that if two young females are able to evade security and reach his residence on the 16th floor, then anyone could. He requested a case report be made so the building has documentation of the incident and that additional security precautions should be taken. Building staff advised they do not believe the ring-and-runners are residents or guests.

MONDAY, JULY 24

INCOMPLETE WORK

6:37 p.m., 3000 block of Viola Drive

Civil disturbance: A homeowner complained to police about a contractor’s work, or the lack thereof, who left for the day before completing repairs to her carport roof. She said that she could see holes in the roof and they needed to

TUESDAY, JULY 25

TICKET TIRADE

11:56 a.m., 1400 block of Second Street

Dispute: An officer made contact with a city parking enforcement employee, who advised that while issuing a parking citation the driver came out of a business and started yelling, saying that she was inside for only a brief moment. The driver then threw the ticket to the ground and left, but not before kicking the parking enforcement scooter. The officer advised the parking enforcement worker that if the ticket had already been printed and was in possession of the driver, even if only

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While the officer was on the scene, the contractor returned to pick up tools he had left. He stated he wanted payment for the work he had already completed, but the complainant said he would not pay him until the job was finished. The parties separated without further incident.

TUESDAY, JULY 25

TROLL TIDE

1:31 a.m., 4400 block of Bayshore Road

Prowler: A woman told police that while watching TV in her living room, she saw a shadow cross the couch, appearing to come from the front door window area. She looked toward the sidelight and observed a male approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a T-shirt with “Alabama” in lettering across the back. The subject left and proceeded northbound on Bayshore Road.

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