School Board talks FCAT and SHS rebuild

UPDATE: Sarasota County School Board members voted 4 to 1 to adopt a resolution criticizing FCAT. Frank Kovach, District 3, gave the dissenting vote. Also, COO Scott Lemke asked board to raise budget by $4 million after the contractor estimated an SHS rebuild to cost $30.5 million.

Sarasota County School Board members will meet at 11 a.m. today at Landings Administrative Complex, 1980/1960 Landings Blvd., for a monthly work session that includes discussions about the design chosen by the public for the Sarasota High School rebuild and the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. 

More than 200 parents, teachers, students and business leaders voted unanimously for a rebuild design for SHS, submitted by architecture firm Harvard Jolly Inc., at a two-day design charrette earlier this month. The design picked is expected to cost $2 million more than the $26.5 million earmarked for the renovations. Board members today will review the design with a final decision expected to come later this year.

After going over the school district’s operating budget, board members will move to a smaller conference room to discuss reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act through No Child Left Behind. Specifically, discussion will center on the FCAT.

There will also be a regular School Board meeting this afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. Seven school expulsion cases will face approval along with recommendations for demolishing several portables at the Sarasota County Technical Institute. The board will then vote on approving a contract for the first phase of construction on SHS, which has a guaranteed maximum cost of $443,881.

Click here to view the agenda.

Contact Alex Mahadevan at [email protected].

 

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