Dear Sarasota County Schools Community,
This past Friday (November 7), the School Board of Sarasota County voted unanimously to approve the Future Focused Strategic Initiative. This plan has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the aspirations of our students and families; to streamline and enhance our programmatic offerings as a district; and to optimize the utilization of Sarasota County Schools’ facilities and resources.
Thank you to our School Board members for their support and leadership as our district moves forward with the implementation of this initiative. I would also like to thank the many school-based and district-based team members that worked hard to refine these details, ensuring that all of the insights from teachers, staff members, students, families, and community members – spanning numerous emails, meetings, and conversations – were gathered and considered in the overall decision-making process. It has truly been inspiring to see the Sarasota County Schools stakeholders come together in support of furthering our shared mission and vision for public education in our community.
My leadership team and I have been developing the framework for the Future Focused Strategic Initiative for several months. Through our collaboration with families, school leaders, the Florida Department of Education, and community partners, we have developed an innovative plan that puts the needs of our schools at the forefront. Since there were a few iterations of school-specific plans shared before the initiative reached its final approval, I wanted to be sure that our community had a repository that was convenient to reference and share. Please consider visiting the dedicated Future Focused Strategic Initiative webpage to learn more about the exciting changes ahead for Sarasota County Schools.
Highlights of the Future Focused Strategic Initiative
Alta Vista Elementary School will be reimagined as a K–8 school through a phased roll-up over the next three years. Alta Vista will also introduce innovative STEAM-focused programming, providing hands-on, interdisciplinary learning opportunities that reflect community interest and workforce relevance.
Brentwood Elementary School will be reimagined as a K–8 school through a phased roll-up over the next three years. Brentwood will continue offering Cambridge+ enrichment classes beginning in 1st grade, engaging students in advanced coursework that promotes creativity and higher-order thinking. As part of the Cambridge International Programme, Brentwood uses an internationally recognized curriculum that develops critical thinking and global awareness.
Gulf Gate Elementary School will be reimagined as a K–8 school through a phased roll-up over the next three years. The K–8 model offers students, families, and communities a continuous and stable learning environment from early childhood through adolescence. With fewer transitions, students experience stronger relationships with teachers, greater academic consistency, and improved development.
Wilkinson Elementary School will be reimagined as a K–8 school through a phased roll-up over the next three years. Wilkinson will maintain its emphasis on rigorous and relevant STEAM learning opportunities, preparing students with the creative and analytical skills needed for future academic and career success.
Emma E. Booker Elementary School will continue as a K-5 school as it currently operates; however, a portion of the campus will be repurposed for an exciting new partnership. Buildings 4 & 8 will be home to Junior Achievement BizTown. JA BizTown is an interactive, hands-on simulation where students run a mock city, taking on roles such as business owners, employees, and citizens to learn about economics. We envision this partnership to be a place where all 5th grade students within our district visit on a field trip. This will also provide the opportunity for students in neighboring school districts to take field trips to this site. Learn more about Junior Achievement here.
Booker Middle School will continue as a 6-8 school as it currently operates. Additionally, Building 14 will be repurposed to build and open a Junior Achievement Finance Park site. JA Finance Park is a real-world budgeting simulation where students manage personal finances, make spending decisions, and experience the responsibilities of adulthood in a safe, educational setting. This will also provide the opportunity for students at other Sarasota County schools and in neighboring school districts to take field trips to this site. Also, Building 10 at Booker Middle School will be repurposed for use as a North County childcare center. This will include a partnership with a licensed, reputable childcare provider who will provide services that we know families struggle to find at an affordable rate. This service will be available first to school district employees at a low cost.
Brookside Middle School will be receiving innovative new programming, launching in a phased approach, over the next three years. For the upcoming 2026–2027 school year, 6th grade will become the Gulf Coast Academy of Innovation & Technology’s inaugural cohort. The Academy will expand to 7th grade in the 2027-2028 school year, with a full 6th to 8th grade configuration as a districtwide magnet program by the 2028-2029 school year. The Academy will focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, information technology, gaming, and cybersecurity, developed in partnership with local universities and supported by lab upgrades and facility renovations. A portion of the Brookside campus will also be repurposed to house district administrative staff, relocating personnel from The Landings to existing available space and improving operational efficiency.
Sarasota County Schools is honored to uphold the legacy of high-quality, innovative educational programming that our community desires and expects for our children. Our traditional public schools serve as connection points for generations of students – we take our responsibility to care for the needs of our school communities to heart. On behalf of the School Board and thousands of school district employees, thank you for your continued trust and support. Every Student. Every Day!
Sincerely,
Terry Connor
Superintendent of Schools