Sarasota County Schools has historically been an A-rated school district. We recruit families to our community through the high-quality education system that has been pumping out rockstars for its history. Our schools are the backbone of our local economy.
Because of the Universal Voucher Program, our school district is losing dollars and losing students, opening doors for privitzation and continuing the political rhetoric driving our children’s education.
And because of SB 2510, “charter chains can access district facilities deemed “underused, vacant, or surplus” – language broad enough to include schools with temporary enrollment dips or demographic shifts, regardless of academic performance.”
The kicker? The school is paid for by Sarasota’s tax dollars. Our own School Board Member Robyn Marinelli says, ““I mean, [charter schools] can come in, literally, and they don’t pay for a thing,” Marinelli exclaimed. “We have to pay for transportation facilities, you name it, lunch.””
And we are already seeing its effect in Sarasota. Do you know if it’s affecting you? Let’s find out:
Are you a parent with a student in Wilkinson? Literally in awe of your advocacy and determination to partner with the school district to save your school. Thank you. And please keep going.
Are you a parent with a student in Oak Park, Brookside or Emma E. Booker?
Because a charter school through Schools of Hope just filed to co-locate at those schools. According to the article above (and a recently passed law), this means that “The public school system would then be forced to foot the bill for utilities, busing, custodial services and even meals for those new charter students — all at no cost to the charter operator.”
Or are you a parent at a different public school in Sarasota?
See below, to reconcile how your school could be impacted based on enrollment (which was, if you remember, a direct result of using tax-payer dollars to fund private school vouchers).
Chart created or at least shared (but probably created) by the ingenuity of Suncoast Spotlight.
I just feel like this is a huge shift to our community with little opportunity for parent input or parent education. In a state where Parental Rights are law…where are our rights in this overhaul of our overachieving school district?
Asking for 50,000+ friends.
srqFAQ 