We know many in our community are still without power and are facing day-to-day challenges when it comes to securing support and resources. Our partners at Sarasota County government have recently made announcements about the following key resources (for more information from Sarasota County government about Hurricane Milton Recovery, please visit:www.scgov.net/government/emergency-services/storm):

Neighborhood Supply Points of Distribution (POD): There are four supply PODs up and running with food, water, cleaning supplies, and tarps from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at the following locations:

Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave., Venice
San Pedro Catholic Church, 14380 Tamiami Trail, North Port
Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 S. River Road, Englewood
Glebe Park, 1000 Glebe Lane, Sarasota.
FDEM Fuel Distribution Sites: FDEM has opened public fuel depot locations to support residents in Milton impacted counties. Fuel is ONLY for cars & only 10 gallons per car.
Please reference the “Fuel Distribution Sites” section for the latest location information (FloridaDisaster.org/Updates)
Comfort Points: Comfort points are available throughout Sarasota County. Individuals are encouraged to come out to an air-conditioned area, charge your phones and enjoy some food and coffee while supplies last.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily, Streets Of Paradise, 734 Central Ave., Sarasota.
Meals and Food Drive-Thru
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., daily through Friday, Oct. 18, Bayside Community Church Lakewood Ranch Campus, 15800 E. Route 64, Bradenton
Noon to 7 p.m., daily through Friday, Oct. 18, Bayside Community Church Bee Ridge Campus, 8200 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota.
Hope Line and Crisis Cleanup: The Hope Line (1-833-GET-HOPE) offers 24/7 support, and Crisis Cleanup (1-844-965-1386) can assist with debris removal and storm cleanup

We are sharing the following timeline for the week to ensure all of our families can prepare and plan accordingly:

Tuesday, October 15
No school for students – district-managed schools remain closed for regular school operations.
Wednesday, October 16
District-managed school students return to school. This will be a regular school day for students.
Thursday, October 17
Regular school day for students.
Friday, October 18
Friday was already marked as a Professional Day (non-student day). District-managed school students will not attend school on Friday.
We understand that the upcoming week may pose challenges for some families. While we are all eager to return to our routines, our schools and systems require additional time to reset for normal operations fully.

We are finalizing adjustments to the 2024-25 school year calendar to account for the recent school closures. We will keep you informed as more information becomes available. If your family is facing circumstances that prevent your child from returning to school for an extended period, please know that we are here to support you. Please contact your school directly, and we will work with you to ensure your child's educational needs are met during this time. We appreciate your continued partnership in promoting our students' educational well-being and supporting our school communities. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during these times.

The past weeks have been incredibly challenging as we navigate the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Milton. Each of you has faced various barriers, and your strength during this time has been remarkable. We understand the emotional and physical toll these events can take, and we want to acknowledge your hard work and dedication in supporting one another and our community. A heartfelt thank you to all who were assigned to or volunteered for emergency duties in evacuation centers last week and those who have taken on "other duties as assigned" before and after Hurricane Milton. Your efforts have been invaluable to our community's recovery. In light of these challenges, we want to ensure everyone has clear guidance for the week ahead:

Tuesday, October 15: Instructional and classified personnel return to their work sites.
Wednesday, October 16: Students return to district-managed schools. This will be a regular school day.
Thursday, October 17: This will be a regular school day.
Friday, October 18: This day remains a Professional Day (non-student day). Students and 186-day staff will not be in school, and no district activities will be scheduled as originally planned.

Please take a moment to complete and submit the Staff Support Survey (link) if you still need to do so. Your feedback will help us ensure that everyone who needs additional support can access the necessary resources. We are committed to accommodating anyone facing significant challenges as they prepare to return to work. If you anticipate difficulties or require accommodations related to your work, please contact your supervisor to discuss appropriate options. The district leadership team is actively working on adjustments to the 2024-25 school year calendar in response to recent school closures. The school calendar committee will convene this week to finalize plans, and we will promptly share the updated calendar once it is finalized.
Again, Thank you for your dedication to your colleagues, our students, families, and the community. In the weeks and months to come, we will continue to support each other and rebuild.