Most of us know Sarasota County Schools is an A-rated school district, and high-quality schools beget stronger high school graduation rates. High-quality schools also equate to higher property values, and it’s no secret that many homeowners scout out highly rated schools when making their home buying decisions.

In short, high-quality education and thriving communities are inextricably linked, and for 22 years Sarasota County residents have overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Ad Valorem Millage Referendum that directly supports our public schools, students and teachers.  That is why I am advocating for you to VOTE YES to continue the referendum for the Sarasota County Schools.

By voting YES, Sarasota County Schools will be enabled to invest approximately $114 million each year by providing 30 minutes of additional daily instructional time, exposing students to arts, music and STEM education, expanding access for career and technical education, implementing safety measures and enhancing campus safety, and attracting and retaining high-quality educators. The 30 minutes of additional daily instructional time alone equals 18 extra school days per year, and over the course of a child’s education from kindergarten through graduation, the child gains a full year of additional classroom learning.

Everyone should vote yes and continue to support public education in Sarasota County. Past elections have shown the majority of voters who support continuing the referendum are not necessarily native to Sarasota and they are over 69, yet they care about young people and upcoming generations here in Sarasota County. This cohort understands not only the value but the necessity of high-quality education and its connection to student success that is imperative to ensure that our community continues to thrive.

Superintendent Terry Connor and his team have built a strong, long-term strategic plan (sarasotacountyschools.net) that demonstrates a solid commitment and implementation process to keep our schools positioned among the best in the State. Sarasota County has always invested in education and in the future of our youth. It is a growing cornerstone of our community, and I hope we can all make the promise to keep our commitment to education intact by going through the entire ballot, find the referendum on page four and vote yes. 

Join the strong coalition of supporters to continue this referendum. At the Education Foundation, we believe an investment in a child’s education is the best investment anyone can make. This referendum has been community-led for decades, and we can make sure it keeps on going and keeps on giving. Spread the word, canvas neighborhoods, talk to friends and family, and most importantly, go to the last page on the ballot and vote yes for the continuation of the ad valorem millage referendum, like your future depends on it. Because it really does.  

Jennifer Vigne is president and CEO of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. Contact her at jvigne@edfoundationsrq.org to get involved.   

Photo: Sarasota High School.

When Hurricane Helene barreled through the Gulf of Mexico, battering the west coast of Florida, it was just weeks after our Community Foundation announced we were expanding the scope of the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund. 

That fund, activated in the days prior to Hurricane Ian’s historic landfall in 2022, was created to provide long-term recovery to our beleaguered communities, the kind of work that begins months after disaster relief efforts have concluded. The expansion of the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, seeded with $100,000 from The Patterson Foundation as a response to Tropical Storm Debby, signified our recognition that our region is exceptionally vulnerable to natural hazards. This contribution marks an enduring commitment to long-term efforts to make communities whole again. 

As we braced for Hurricane Helene, The Patterson Foundation committed an additional $100,000 to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, anticipating a long road to recovery and the need for a prolonged strategic response. 

Nearly the full extent of Helene’s local brutality was endured by our barrier islands and tidal neighborhoods. As the crowning jewels of our community, these islands—Manasota and Casey Keys, Siesta Key, Lido and Longboat Keys, and Anna Maria Island—are home to the resorts, restaurants and amenities that draw millions of visitors to our area each year and enhance quality of life for locals as well. That we are considered a tropical paradise, a top destination for visitors around the globe and top-rated region to live, is thanks to those islands, their beaches and their world-class amenities.

With coastlines inundated with sand and floodwaters, many of those businesses have been forced to shutter, disrupting the lives of so many people, the workforce that is key to so many people’s perfect vacations, not to mention so many locals’ leisurely outings. 

Natural disasters don’t discriminate and with these communities in repair for the foreseeable future, those who work in a range of sectors in the affected areas face a stressful, uncertain path forward. We realized in an instant that, for these people, immediate help would be needed and decided to launch this year’s Season of Sharing campaign a month earlier than we typically do, to give people an opportunity to provide immediate help to those who need it. The Season of Sharing campaign, which normally kicks off in early November with a $100,000 match challenge for every $500,000 raised by the community, is actively fundraising now with the match in place. 

For 25 years, Season of Sharing has covered essentials like housing, utilities, childcare and transportation for people facing acute economic hardship. Meant as a stopgap that prevents missed payments accruing into crippling debt that can result in homelessness, Season of Sharing helps people pay major bills temporarily so they can get through missed paychecks without losing everything. 

This is a workforce that we can all thank not only for excellent service and commitment, but also for providing the horsepower of our local economic engine. Visit Sarasota County reports that, in 2023, the economic impact of tourism in the region was $4.47 billion, among combined spending from tourists, residents, and economic activity surrounding tourism. Tourism in Sarasota County also reduces the tax burden on local residents by $822 each year, meaning that the infrastructure and benefits we enjoy living here are shouldered in part by tourists’ tax dollars.

It can be hard to know how to help when a disaster of this magnitude befalls your region. Fortunately for us living here, there are two great ways to chip away at the damage and keep our communities intact: in the short term, providing immediate assistance to those with work disruptions or displacement, there’s Season of Sharing. For long-term recovery, addressing needs we can’t even imagine now that will result from Helene, there’s the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund. Help is on the way, right now, and in the long run. 

Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Photo courtesy City of Sarasota: Debris after Hurricane Helene.

As the Nov. 5 general election approaches, every voter must take the time to review their ballot in its entirety, from the first page to the last. At the end of a long ballot, one important item for Sarasota County voters is the School District Millage Referendum. This measure may be overlooked simply because it is at the very end of the ballot on most ballots. Voters are encouraged to carefully examine and complete all front and back pages, especially the last page, where the School District Millage Referendum is located for most voters.

The referendum on this year's ballot asks voters to consider continuing the 1-mill ad valorem property tax for Sarasota County schools. This funding, which has been in place for over 22 years, has allowed our district to recruit and retain top-quality teachers, provide workforce training, improve school safety, support the arts and upgrade technology and classroom resources. These essential programs will continue with the renewal from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. The exact language you will see on your ballot reads as follows: 

BALLOT TITLE: CONTINUES FUNDING FOR TEACHERS, WORKFORCE TRAINING, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH RENEWAL OF AD VALOREM MILLAGE REFERENDUM

BALLOT SUMMARY: Shall the Sarasota County School District continue the 1 mill per year ad valorem millage to retain and recruit quality teachers; provide workforce training; improve school safety and security; preserve the arts; upgrade technology and classroom resources; fund other education programs and school operational needs; beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2030; and sharing funds with charter schools proportionate with student enrollment, with oversight of all funds by an independent committee of citizens?

Yes, for continuation

No, against continuation

Sarasota County has been a leader in providing exceptional opportunities for students, largely because this funding plays an important role in our students’ success and the overall quality of education within the district.

It's easy to get caught up in the other races and measures that appear earlier on the ballot. However, we cannot afford to overlook the importance of local issues like this one. Voters will have the opportunity to decide if the continued funding for our schools is a worthwhile benefit for our students to support access to excellent teachers, state-of-the-art technology, strong arts programs and safe learning environments. Your vote on this issue will help shape our community's future.

Please take the time to vote on every item on your ballot and carefully consider the school district referendum. Your vote on this issue is not just a mark on a ballot; it's a decision that will shape the future of education in our community for years to come. Remember, every vote counts and this issue is too important to miss. You are a key player in this decision and your voice matters.

Terry Connor is Sarasota County Superintendent of Schools. 

Image courtesy Pixabay.