Public Meetings
NOTE: To view scheduled public committee meetings click here to access the interactive district Web calendar. Use the drop-down filter at the bottom of the page (labeled "District Calendar Categories") to select the category "Public Meetings."
To view agendas and minutes of regular meetings of the School Board of Sarasota County, as well as agendas for School Board monthly work sessions, click here and select the appropriate links on the left side of the School Board web page.
Standing District Advisory Committees
In its continuing effort to ensure that it is being responsive to community suggestions and concerns, the Sarasota County School District maintains a number of boards and committees that advise the School Board and the superintendent about issues of interest to specific constituent groups. In a further effort to maintain transparency in school district governance, the superintendent has directed that all meetings of committees that advise the superintendent or School Board directly should be publicly posted in advance and should have minutes published.
The following are the advisory committees involved. A brief description of the membership and purpose of the committee and a schedule of meetings for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year is included. Meeting dates, times and locations also are posted on the district calendar during the months they occur.
The public is welcome to attend any of the posted meetings. Further information about advisory committees is available by contacting the district Communications and Community Relations Office at 941-927-4009 for further information.
Financial Advisory Committee
The Financial Advisory Committee was created to provide citizens' oversight of the district's use of operating funds from the 1-mill local voted millage referendum that was originally approved in 2002 and reauthorized in 2006. The FAC also provides oversight for the use of capital funding generated by the district's share of a one-percent county sales tax. Members are appointed by the School Board.
The Financial Advisory Committee consists of independent professionals from the community with a broad range of experience and perspective. The committee considers a range of issues, including operating budgets, capital financing initiatives, opportunities for cost reductions, the impact of both sales tax and millage tax funding, and communication of the district’s financial situation. The committee meets with the superintendent and chief financial officer no less than quarterly and reports annually to the School Board.
Sponsorship Committee
The Sponsorship Committee was organized to initiate and/or consider proposals that could generate income for the district. The most successful project to date has been an exclusive arrangement for a soft-drink vendor to supply soft drink products for vending machines and booster club snack bars in exchange for participation in the profits.
The Sponsorship Committee meets quarterly to consider proposals and to advise staff whether specific revenue-generating ideas should be pursued.
Special Committees
Ad Hoc committees may be formed by the School Board chairperson when necessary. Such committees will be automatically dissolved upon presentation of their final report to the Board. Board members may attend the meetings but will have no vote unless they are also a committee member. All Special Committee meetings are designated in policy as being open to the public. Special Committees may take no action that is binding on the School Board.