Editor's Note: Part 1 of 2

Shirley Brown, a veteran lawmaker-turned-school board member, faces a challenge from Karen Rose, a long time administrator within the Sarasota County Schools in an election this year that pits knowledge of the political arena against that gleaned on area campuses. At a time of contention between school administration and other regional agencies, the two candidates will spend coming months making the case their approach will be most valuable in keeping Sarasota’s public education system the envy of the state.

Rose, who recently retired as executive director of middle schools for the district, runs with the backing of the teacher’s union and local Republican Party, forces not often in agreement. She credits years of relationships on campuses through the region along with a focus on students. Rose also has worked for years with philanthropic leaders on programs like TechActive classrooms, which held its pilot effort at Sarasota Middle School while she served as principal there. “In 28 years as a teacher and later a principal and administrator, every single decision I made was about the children,” Rose says. Recent news that all middle schools in the district earned a state assessment greater than a B, and especially word of major increases in algebra scores in the district, show her leadership made a different for students, she says. And she feels strongly that's thanks to classroom improvements, not the recent hire of more assistant principals district-wide.

Of course, Brown makes her own case, having served on the Sarasota School Board since 2006 as the district dominated the state in performance on a variety of measures. She says while the district saw a “revolving door of superintendents” before her election, she helped provide greater continuity in leadership while the district continued to try new things. She says her strong but calm voice on school issues should remain on the board, especially at a time when controversial political matters threaten to take public schools off course. “Not that I don’t get heated sometimes, but I work to keep the focus on the district and the kids,” she says. “Sometimes I provide that voice of reason or help to provide a solution that works.” She says the recent decision by the teacher's union has more to do with recent salary negotiations than anything, but believes a contract that rewards the district's 1,646 teachers rated as "highly effective" with a higher raise was the best move for area schools.

The election for School Board District 4 is scheduled for Aug. 28. 

Pictured: Shirley Brown, Karen Rose

The local pinnacle of trendy boho goods and clothing, among the influential crossroads of Anthropologie, ModCloth and Free People, prevails Mercantile Home & Apparel. The contemporarily earthy boutique, nuzzled at the center of Main Street, paints a woodland wonderland from its walls lined with timber bookshelves, decorative canvases and branch jewelry holders, to its succulent tea lights and plant terrariums suspended from the ceiling. Both modish and endearingly quirky merchandise alike coruscate from nearly every square inch of the store, providing customers with an ampleness to peruse and pull interior design inspiration.

Mercantile’s storefront introduces you with home decor, jewelry, gifts and curio, such as coffee table books, embroidered pillows, Turkish towels, rustic kitchen utensils, marble plates, gift kits and more—the inventory appears infinite. A collection of dish towels lines several shelves of the stores, all individually stitched with cutesy and witting sayings that will add a touch of spunk, whimsy and jocosity to the kitchen. As you proceed to the back, you’ll encounter Mercantile’s line of predominantly linen apparel. The 100% linen dresses, tops, ponchos, pants and skirts equip patrons with the lightest and most breathable of fabrics for the profound summertime heat. Perhaps one of Mercantile’s most distinctive items is the wooden puzzle serving board. Contrived from solid acacia wood and split into six puzzle pieces, the board provides guests at your next dinner party with the most interactively hip serving and sharing apparatus.

Mercantile Home & Apparel, 1463 Main St., Sarasota, 941-366-2457.

Missed it last year? Don’t make a habit of it—join Marina Jack for its annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular this Independence Day. All areas will be open for lunch as early as 11am, and the fireworks celebration in the evening peaks at sundown until 10pm. Indulge in a specially prepared four course menu from the Dining Room, which will start at 4:30pm. At Blue Sunshine Patio Bar & Grill, a live music band will be featured on the patio from 6pm-on. And at Deep Six Lounge & Piano Bar, all areas including the deck will feature a four course dinner menu as Rock Lee performs on the piano, starting at 6pm as well. Lastly, the Marina Jack II will return to its dock for premier viewing of the light show over reflective waters. All seating is family style as the three hour cruise embarks with live music performances and a buffet menu featuring Beef Tenderloin, Potato Crusted Grouper, Mixed Greens Salad, Au Gratin Potatoes, Seasoned Vegetables, Key Lime Pie, Caramel Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse Cake. Take in the magnificent display of lights in the night sky at Sarasota Bayfront’s nautical hot spot—it’s the only way to party like a true patriot.

Don’t forget to make your reservations for the spectacular day of waterfront dining and the region’s largest fireworks show—Wednesday, July 4th. Marina Jack is a member of Nosh, SRQ Magazine's content marketing program for local restaurants. 

Image provided by Marina Jack

Marina Jack, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 941-365-4232.

The School Board of Manatee County has voted to approve Cynthia Saunders as the next Superintendent of the School District of Manatee County. Saunders will serve as superintendent following Dr. Diana Greene, who was named superintendent in Duval County. Saunders has more than 28 years of professional experience in education as a teacher, assistant principal and principal, as well as an Executive Director of Secondary Schools. Prior to becoming Superintendent,. Saunders served as Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services in Manatee County from July 2015 to June 2018. During her tenure as Deputy Superintendent, the School District of Manatee County made significant gains academically. The Florida Department of Education gave the district a grade of “B” two of the last three years (2015, 2017) after receiving a grade of “C” the previous three years, and, in 2017, for the first time since 2009, not a single Manatee District school received an “F” grade. In addition, the Manatee District’s graduation rate rose from 77.9 percent in 2014-2015 to 83.5 percent for the 2016-2017 school year. 

School District of Manatee County

The Sarasota County School District has earned an A grade by the state of Florida for the 15th consecutive year since grading began in 2004. Sarasota was one of 20 school districts in Florida to earn an A grade for the 2017-18 school year. The school district saw improvements in eight of 11 categories and maintained scores in the other three. There were no declines. Sarasota County Schools’ overall scores improved by four percentage points compared to last year and the school district is ranked #3 in the state behind St. John and Lafayette who are both tied for #1. 

Sarasota County Schools

Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s board of directors approved more than $5.8 million in grants and scholarships last week. The funding, which was approved at the final board meeting of the foundation’s 2018 fiscal year, included over $3.8 million in grants from donor advised funds, as well as $508,000 in scholarship awards. Among grants approved by the Gulf Coast Board in June were five Leveraged Grants totaling $289,500. Gulf Coast’s Leveraged Grants fund collaborative work that will address specific regional priorities identified by the foundation through periodic community assessments. These grants included: $100,000 to support Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation’s First 1,000 Days Sarasota County initiative; $27,500 to the Gulf Coast Partnership, to implement a system into housing and services for female veterans and chronically homeless women and their children; $40,000 to United Way of Charlotte County to support the new position of collective impact manager; $97,000 to Ringling College of Art and Design and Sarasota County Schools to support the design and testing of innovative classrooms in Sarasota County high schools; and $25,000 to Van Wezel Foundation. Gulf Coast also awarded more than $139,000 in Community and Sponsorship Grants, including a $20,000 grant to The SKY Family YMCA in Venice. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Halfacre Construction Company recently welcomed Chelsea Gruber and Priscilla Harsham to its Lakewood Ranch-based office. Gruber joins Halfacre Construction as its marketing and business development manager. In her new role, she will explore Lakewood Ranch opportunities and manage the proposal and presentation materials and development. Most recently, Gruber worked within the marketing departments for two area architectural firms. She is currently attending the University of South Florida to obtain her Master of Business Administration. Harsham comes to Halfacre Construction as a project engineer. She has strong knowledge of civil engineering principles and concepts and will apply those skills to several of Halfacre Construction’s current projects, including security updates to Sarasota County Schools. 

Halfacre Construction Company

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