The Sarasota County School District Thought It Could
The first day of school proves mountains can be conquered
“I think I can, I think I can. . .”
The 1930’s story of The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper is symbolic of what the Sarasota County Public School district achieved within less than a year’s time. On this sweltering August first week back to school, this tale of positive thinking has never been more appropriately applied due to the powerful engines of a hard-working, determined administration.
The Situation
A train breaks down with toys for boys and girls before reaching a high mountain. Trains with strong engines refuse to help, because they are too busy or prideful.
In 2025, schools throughout Florida were being threatened by new laws passed in the state that would allow for-profit charter schools to encroach on taxpayer funded public school property. The unaptly named ‘Schools of Hope’ would not have to pay rent, while public schools provided all the overhead: Property use and upkeep; Electric; Water (and); Available space and land.
The big engines in Tallahassee passed this legislation in the eleventh hour that would break already underfunded public schools throughout Florida. Billionaire Ken Griffin gave a record amount of monetary incentive to state lawmakers to ensure a smooth transition in moving his Success Academy Charter Schools network to Florida.
Across the state, public schools scrambled to fill underutilized classroom space in order to not have to bear the financial burden of what public school advocate Robin Williams described as “squatters”. These charter schools already collect in the ballpark of $9000 per student per school year. If it looks like a grift and sounds like a grift. . .
The Attempt
A tiny blue engine agrees to help and starts the hard climb.
Superintendent Terry Connor and his staff went to work on a “Future Focused Strategic Initiative” - a reimagining for several existing public schools - to avoid Schools of Hope from school board member Liz Barker’s description of “a hostile takeover". The problem was, there was a large outcry from the public, including the first plan to dissolve Wilkinson Elementary School.
In what could have been described as a stunning move, the citizens’ voices were actually heard and it was back to the drawing board for an exhausted, but determined staff. A thoroughly mapped-out plan to merge Suncoast Polytechnical High School with Brookside was also protested, with students leaving class to attend a board meeting.
Already Overburdened
“I pull you? I am a Passenger Engine. I have just carried a fine big train over the mountain, with more cars than you ever dreamed of.... I pull the likes of you? Indeed not!”
When new Sarasota County Tax Collector Mike Moran was elected to office, there was a stunned disbelief. Reports, such as the one that came out in Florida Trident, read that Moran had allegedly spent over $36,000 in tax money on a lavish Las Vegas trip. This came about due to his second publicly-funded job at the Florida PACE Funding Agency, which was also subject to concern.
Shortly after being elected, his office withheld over $2 million in 2% commission fees from voter-approved school millage funds. After Connor collegially attempted to negotiate with the new tax collector, Moran’s incapacity prompted a lawsuit from the school district. The county commission temporarily stepped in to cover the costs after aligning initially with Moran (due to what they acknowledged as “a mistake”.)
Speaking to Florida Senator James Buchanan at a Venice forum, he credited Connor and the timing of getting laws changed. The new legislation went into effect July 1 and is expected to preserve tens of millions of dollars annually for public schools across the state. A lawsuit between the district schools and the tax collector remain ongoing.
A Success Story Emerges
“I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could.”
With forced budget cuts that slashed positions from teaching staff, guidance counselors and administrative positions, a new Future Focused Strategic Initiative was passed unanimously by board members. With a contentious school board, this was no easy feat. The reimagining began for the following public schools.
Alta Vista Elementary - Reimagined as a K–8 school, with STEAM-focused programming, 2026–29
Brentwood Elementary - Reimagined as a K–8 school, retaining Cambridge+ enrichment, 2026–29
Gulf Gate Elementary - Reimagined as a K–8 school, 2026–29
Wilkinson Elementary - Reimagined as a K–8 school, with emphasis on STEAM, 2026–29
Brookside Middle - Reimagined as Gulf Coast Academy of Innovation & Technology, a districtwide 6–8 magnet focused on: AI; machine learning; IT; gaming (and) cybersecurity, 2026–29
Emma E. Booker Elementary will remain a K–5, but portions of the campus will be repurposed for Junior Achievement BizTown. Booker Middle will also get a Junior Achievement Finance Park and a North County childcare center in repurposed buildings.
Behind the Scenes
While there were those in Sarasota that complained about what they perceived as a top-heavy administrative budget within the school district, it turns out that Sarasota County Schools reduced district-level administrative staffing by 14% compared to a 6% reduction in overall school-level staffing (which includes classroom teachers, counselors. . .) These are the latest numbers we have.
Last month in Tallahassee, legislators were wreaking havoc with public school administrators by giving them a forced date to post their budgets, while undecided themselves as to what the schools would be getting from the state.
Connor and his team stayed ahead, played a guessing game and within three - four days came up with a budget. During ‘summer break’, the staff was working on new required Florida curriculum and all the important cogs in the machine were at work - from effective advertising to draw students to the public schools to new bus apps. Then there was the brand new Wellen Park High School.
The First Day of School
In life, things aren’t always seamless and hard work isn’t routinely appreciated. The same goes for the running of the public schools in this district. What was accomplished however, within such a short period of time, with the most extreme of a budget, was inconceivable.
So, if one discovers bugs in the system this first week of school, that is to be expected every school year. However, as the school bells ring in the 2026 - ‘27 school year, there is something patently different. Sarasota almost lost what we take for granted. Instead, this A-rated school district that absolutely thought it could, delivered.
Parents and Students: We would love to post your pictures / experiences of the first week back to school. Write to: DearBubbieFeedback@yahoo.com
A Dear Bubbie Footnote: It is critically important how we vote on August 18. Far outrunning any other candidate in the area of supporting public education - Republican or Democrat - is the Gubernatorial team of David Jolly and Gwen Graham.
I sat in on an educational roundtable, spoke with Graham who said to me: “I tear up when talking about public education.” Jolly pleases both sides of the aisle with his support of the school scholarship / voucher system / school choice, yet wants to make sure the money follows the students back to the public schools.
Graham’s experience in education within the state system is impressive, but she also served as Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education. (She’s as smart and capable as she is kind.)
It’s truly unfortunate that one of the top-runners, Byron Donalds, supported by Ken Griffin and AI entities, has a wife that has been involved with for-profit charter schools. Parents have been left hanging in the lurch, while she has raked in millions of dollars, including a school in Lee County that accepted vouchers, but never even opened. I sincerely mean unfortunate, because the importance of public education is so vital to our very Democracy.
For the local school board, we’ve been pretty noisy in our support for Megan Tennimon, a former volunteer turned teacher and hopefully school board member. When it comes to education, Tennimon has a limitless tank of gas. She is a listener and approachable, which is what any school district needs in a leader.
District 1 will possibly be getting their first true representative in Jimmy Glover. He is as strong on policy as his heart is big on kids who struggle through issues out of their control. Many of the Title One schools are in his district, and a boots on the ground approach has been sorely missing.
For District 5, there has never been a more qualified candidate on paper or in life as Beth Mayberry. A former teacher, she had also earned her Certified Financial Planning certificate. That is not an easy feat. Her children and grandchildren attend(ed) the public schools in the county. She maintains a warmth and a smile for all who are in her orbit - from children to senior citizens.
We have to do this every time. . .Dear Bubbie is running for Sarasota County Commission in District 4. Check out the campaign website for Julie London (hi!) and consider a donation. Our name is on the November 3 ballot.
We are working on a blog for our paid subscribers only (thank you so much for your support). Coming up for all - we visited with Sarasota County Department directors and discovered the true meaning of public servant. Their stories are compelling and share a common thread - they are family. I can’t wait to introduce you. . .
Beautifully done, as always. After the school board election, I hope you'll do a piece on the terrible consequences for schools if Amendment 3 passes, even though the school tax is exempt from the homestead reduction. Many don't realize how much community organizations and businesses contribute to schools' safety and success. They will have will have significant budget cuts and will have to make hard decisions that will surely affect these contributions,
I love your analogy since I am a train enthusiast.