School board OKs changes to public comment rules

During a July 16 board meeting, the Sarasota County School Board covered a range of subjects.

It passed previously discussed changes to its public comment policies, which continued to draw public opposition, approved advertising for the alignment of its policy regarding the use of name, image and likeness for high school athletes with a policy currently pending approval by the state, and approved new positions and security measures. 

During a prior board workshop that same day, it also dealt with the issue of potential increases to student meal prices. The following are the highlights of those discussions.

Changes to public comment

The school board unanimously passed previously discussed changes to the rules and format for public comment.

The new format would allow comments related to the meeting agenda held prior to board discussions, with general comments afterward. Previously, all comments were heard prior to the meeting, which was delaying the board’s work on its agenda.

Multiple speakers once again voiced opposition to the proposal. 

Some speakers criticized a related ordinance also passed by the board during the meeting, which stated those who “knowingly disrupt or interfere with” a school board or advise others on how to do so, may be charged with a misdemeanor offense of the second degree.

“As it stands, your lack of decisive, clear description of disruption and interference leaves a dangerous amount of room for subjective interpretation that kicks the door wide open for weaponization against dissenting voices in this boardroom; the vagueness is unethical and threatening,” said speaker Casanova Daugherty.

Board member Tom Edwards said he had voted for the policy, which had previously been in place, the first time it was enacted. 

He said it would provide time for citizens to bring in concerns about items on the meeting’s consent agenda that the board might have to address, something he said had happened several times during his tenure.

“I don’t agree 100% with what was said beforehand, because hate is hate. We know what that is. An attack is an attack. We know what that is. And politics and/or campaigning should not be in here,” he said while stating he was still open to a discussion on clearer guidelines, despite his decision in favor of the rules.

NIL policy

The school board approved the ability for the district to advertise a policy allowing high school student athletes to enter into Name, Image and Likeness deals. 

The proposed policy was created in accordance with one passed in June by the Florida High School Athletics Association, and will be advertised in the case the original policy is approved by the Florida Department of Education on July 24. 

Under the new rules, students would be able to profit from their name, image and likeness through activities such as commercial endorsements or a social media presence, without placing their eligibility at risk.

The proposed rules contain certain restrictions, including not being able to use school logos or uniforms or use school events for this purpose.

New positions introduced

The board introduced the role of director for the Department of Strategic Improvement and Multilingual Learning. The position will provide oversight and leadership for all federal programs under the Every Student Succeeds Act, while also addressing needs of English Language Learners and overseeing ESOL programming. 

School board members said this role fills an important need for an underserved population of students. 

The district also added the position of competitive grant specialist, a role which will collaborate with other district departments on grant opportunities. 

Connor said this specialist will coordinate the compliance factors in grants and will monitor key metrics in student outcomes. 

“Over the years, that was a position that was cut, and the district really suffered for that because grant writing is not an easy thing to do,” said board member Robyn Marinelli. 

Another position, a private schools specialist, will work with private school administrators to ensure the implementation and enforcement of equitable services required for all government entitlement grants. 

Connor said the district contains 35 private schools that must be consulted regularly on this matter. 

The district also approved an English language-learner parent-family outreach facilitator, which Connor said will increase family participation in the district’s instructional programs and support. 

School meal pricing

During a workshop on July 16, the school board held discussions concerning a potential increase in the prices of student meals. 

The proposed increases range from 25 cents to 75 cents based on the specific meal and the school’s educational level.

Sara Dan, director of Food and Nutrition Services, called increases in expenses “unprecedented.” 

She said during the past year, the district saw an 18% increase in the cost of food, while employees saw a 4% increase in salaries and a 19% increase in benefit costs, with a 12% increase in benefit costs anticipated for next year. She said this year, the district is no longer receiving the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply chain assistance funding due to its sunsetting. 

However, she said the district would continue to maximize the benefits of its buying cooperative, HPS Food & Ingredients Inc., from which it receives rebates for purchased food that now includes produce.

She said while the state of Florida chose not to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the district receives funding from other governmental departments. 

Board members praised the department for its work in navigating the economic situation. 

“I’m sorry we have to raise the prices. I wish it didn’t have to be, but as I also said, if Sarah Dan could figure out a way to do it now, she would have, so that’s why I trust her that that was the very, very best dollars and cents that we could come up with,” said Edwards during that day’s board meeting. 

Edwards said he will be working on a solution that would allow a free lunch to be offered to every child in the school district.

New security devices

Connor said during the 2023-2024 school year, the district saw success in piloting an OPENGATE weapons detection system.

The metal detector, whose columns do not require a wired connection, is intended to be easily portable. 

The board approved the decision to spend $1.5 million from the district's capital funds to expand the initiative across additional high schools and middle schools. 

The hope is that it can be implemented by the end of the school year, an outcome which will be based on supply and demand, Connor said.

"That pilot has gone very successfully," he said. "We started in April. We were able to work out those kinks within a two-week period and to move ... 2,700 students through our weapons detection systems each and every morning."

The district was also authorized to purchase an Omnilert system, an AI detection technology system for security cameras that has been piloted in some of the district's schools and which it hopes to use across all school security cameras. 

Connor said the initial investment will be $917,000 out of the capital fund, with the ongoing annual renewal being about half that cost. 

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the name of the AI detection technology system.