- September 6, 2024
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Voters will return to the polls in November to determine whether a 1-mill property tax referendum for Sarasota County Schools should be renewed.
The referendum was last renewed in 2022. Despite taking effect in 2026, it appears on 2024's ballot due to recent legislation requiring that all referendums appear on a general election ballot.
If approved, the extension would continue levying a 1 mill per year property tax, equivalent to $1 per $1,000 of taxable value, from 2026 to 2030. Terry Connor, the superintendent of Sarasota County Schools, said the approximately $83 million collected in 2023-2024 through the referendum is about 20% of the district's operating budget. The district's total budget is $1.5 billion.
“It's a significant portion of what we do every day, and without it, it would create havoc in the school district,” said Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools Terry Connor. “I know, it's supplemental, but at the end of the day, it really is what separates us and makes us great. It's why we've been an ‘A’ school district since grading started in 2002.”
Connor said the referendum has been a major contributor of funding for a variety of programming and other needs in the school district.
Connor said this time around, the district is slightly increasing its focus on career pathways, including in STEM fields, to meet the demand and needs of the community.
The school district already offers a wide variety of career pathways supported by the referendum, one being the Construction Technology Program established at Riverview High School in 2022.
Jeff Lahdenpera, a teacher in the program and a veteran of the construction industry, said one of the industry's major struggles is finding qualified individuals to hire, which is the reason he decided to become an instructor.
"I know I'm a different generation, but during my time in school, we had all these courses, and then as my kids grew up, they disappeared," he said. "So bringing it back, especially in this area, the construction industry here in Florida, it's needed... Not everybody goes to college. If they want a career in this type of field, they can go right out."
Connor hopes the district will further develop in the area of workforce education.
This might mean offering more dual enrollment courses or new and different programs in areas like construction, healthcare, business, IT and hospitality services. The district is eyeing advanced manufacturing, a field that involves enhancing manufacturing through techniques like automation.
Career advisors would also be included in the funding.
“In terms of just the pathways, those are evolving based on need, and times are changing, but we want to fund the ability to hire instructors in career and technical education continuously, supporting them with the referendum dollars, so that we can make sure that specialized education pathway is there for our students," Connor said.
Some other current programs include an automotive program at Suncoast Technical College, the district's highest-producing program in terms of dual enrollment students, and the nearby Suncoast Polytechnical High School, which relies on referendum dollars for needs including robotics, digital design and advanced computers.
The referendum funding also has been put toward supporting arts programming.
For instance, Booker High School's Visual and Performing Arts Program, an arts-related magnet program in the district, offers opportunities not limited to music, dance and film and animation.
“Those enriching learning experiences are very vital, and we want to continue to support the arts, music, theater, all of those great programs,” Connor said.
Another major focus of referendum dollars will continue to be supporting teachers and addressing the ongoing national teacher shortage.
One way this would be achieved is offering salary enhancements designed to be competitive with Manatee County and surrounding areas.
“When teachers feel they're able to grow in their profession, they're more apt to stay with you, and so we want teachers to feel like they, and our staff, have the ability to grow and learn," Connor said. "Providing that opportunity is a portion of (remaining competitive)."
The referendum also supports security within the district, with the dollars funding positions like school resource officers and security aides in middle and high schools.
“(Security aides) are the extra eyes and the extra hands to make sure students are safe,” Connor said.
Funds support media aides to maintain and curate school libraries and provide student activities, as well as the certified media specialists who oversee their roles.
Although the referendum dollars currently support Reading Recovery, that program is being discontinued in favor of a literacy intervention program created by the district, which will incorporate new strategies and offer additional supports to teachers.
Programs like this, which can enhance student achievement, will be a crucial use of the funds, Connor said, with other examples being dual language and STEM opportunities.
Funds will also continue to support an additional 30 minutes for each school day, something Connor said is supported by research as enhancing student achievement.
"Most importantly, in my opinion, is really focusing in on achievement and making sure students and their academic outcomes are the best and highest they can be,” he said.
