SCHOOLS update
Our neighborhood still doesn't seem to have an official neighborhood liaison at Sarasota High. So when problems arise -- often small issues that could be easily solved -- who do we local residents contact? We don't know!!
SHS Town/Gown Noise Issue.
Following is the text of a 3/29/24 email from Linda (me, webmaster) to the AVNA Board, requesting they distribute information to neighbors on what to do in instances when EXCESSIVE noise from SHS (not just the usual sounds) disturbs them.
"As you know, the noise issue with Sarasota High School, specifically that from sporting events at both East and West campus, continues. Sometimes it's fine; sometimes not. I recall that Maureen and Lisa both had been working on this a bit quite a while ago. It is also clear that quite a few residents -- NOT just Steve! -- consider this an unresolved, ongoing issue. Many afternoons when I am reading in my garden, the stadium PA BLASTS into action with "Club Sarasota" DJ set list top pop hits music, which deprives me of my quiet and peaceful enjoyment of my property, so to speak, and I give up and leave. It used to be just during football season, but lately it's often every afternoon! AVNA represents all residents, so even if not a personal issue for some on the Board, AVNA needs to step up and represent!
SHS has claimed that they have given out direct numbers to one single "squeaky wheel" neighbor to call whenever this occurs. I'm not sure that is the case, and in any event, all neighbors need to know this information.
Here's one small step towards resolution that I am asking AVNA to take, since we still don't have an official SHS-AVNA liaison on the SHS side:
Please, in your next AVNA email blast, include a blurb acknowledging that some residents continue to be plagued by noise issues with SHS, and inform them that when and if the need arises, they should call the Sarasota School Security number, 941-966-7233, right away.
It isn't my intent to burden SHS security with this problem, but until they-the-Schools provide us with a better way to deal with this problem, I see little better recourse.
I believe most of us can agree that most noises caused by a large school next door are, quite reasonably, to be expected (and I actually love hearing the MSB: Mighty Sailors Band), however can we acknowledge that in some instances the type and/or volume of sound is NOT reasonable? SHS is our neighbor, not our "enemy," and for the most part, I think we have decent relations. But when issues arise, I wish we had a better avenue to communicate as good neighbors should... must. [ah, if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride]"
Following is the text of a 3/29/24 email from Linda (me, webmaster) to the AVNA Board, requesting they distribute information to neighbors on what to do in instances when EXCESSIVE noise from SHS (not just the usual sounds) disturbs them.
"As you know, the noise issue with Sarasota High School, specifically that from sporting events at both East and West campus, continues. Sometimes it's fine; sometimes not. I recall that Maureen and Lisa both had been working on this a bit quite a while ago. It is also clear that quite a few residents -- NOT just Steve! -- consider this an unresolved, ongoing issue. Many afternoons when I am reading in my garden, the stadium PA BLASTS into action with "Club Sarasota" DJ set list top pop hits music, which deprives me of my quiet and peaceful enjoyment of my property, so to speak, and I give up and leave. It used to be just during football season, but lately it's often every afternoon! AVNA represents all residents, so even if not a personal issue for some on the Board, AVNA needs to step up and represent!
SHS has claimed that they have given out direct numbers to one single "squeaky wheel" neighbor to call whenever this occurs. I'm not sure that is the case, and in any event, all neighbors need to know this information.
Here's one small step towards resolution that I am asking AVNA to take, since we still don't have an official SHS-AVNA liaison on the SHS side:
Please, in your next AVNA email blast, include a blurb acknowledging that some residents continue to be plagued by noise issues with SHS, and inform them that when and if the need arises, they should call the Sarasota School Security number, 941-966-7233, right away.
It isn't my intent to burden SHS security with this problem, but until they-the-Schools provide us with a better way to deal with this problem, I see little better recourse.
I believe most of us can agree that most noises caused by a large school next door are, quite reasonably, to be expected (and I actually love hearing the MSB: Mighty Sailors Band), however can we acknowledge that in some instances the type and/or volume of sound is NOT reasonable? SHS is our neighbor, not our "enemy," and for the most part, I think we have decent relations. But when issues arise, I wish we had a better avenue to communicate as good neighbors should... must. [ah, if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride]"
SHS Town/Gown Noise Issue. Yes, living next to a high school, one expects "the usual" sounds of students, class bells & PA announcements, stadium and sporting events, etc. But one ongoing neighborhood issue that has gotten worse is the overly-loud PA systems at Sarasota High School, including from stadium, baseball field & batting cage, and softball field. Loud music to entertain the students during athletic practices?
Feb 2024 news: Working to SOLVE problems. Steve M., a TamiSola resident, has been in communication and working with School staff and City staff over the last YEAR AND A HALF (so far!) in an attempt to get SHS to reduce some of this noise encroachment on the neigborhood. He has even gathered signatures on a petition from over 100 local residents concerned about this issue. Following is a report from SHS Principal Ryan on measures the school has taken, so far, to remediate this issue. Thanks to Steve; he got this done!!!
Feb 22, 2024
Sarasota High School's Efforts to Mitigate Sound Production
(courtesy Principal Ryan Chase)
The following efforts have been made since August of 2022 in response to a citizen's complaints about and requests to mitigate the sound generated at Sarasota High School's campus:
- Several meetings, phone calls, and emails to discuss, review, and address concerns
- Lowered bell/announcement volume to a minimum level while still maintaining a standard for safe emergency operations; had it triple checked
- Softball speakers redirected toward center field
- Softball sound system bass frequency turned off (citizen requested to do this himself with softball coach)
- Softball team uses portable speaker during practice instead of stadium speaker to alleviate sound produced
- Baseball speakers repositioned toward center field and speaker facing guest stands repositioned to face the ground
- Noise barrier installed around Chiller Plant on East side of campus -- 3/4 around perimeter to still allow for trucks and other access through fencing
- Communication with stadium announcers to keep volume levels at minimum
- Several instances where citizen called Safety and Security or emailed while administration was campus
- Removed portable speaker and installed new lock in batting cages to prevent access during non-school hours
- Individual conversations with students who rev engines and cause disruption driving down Tami Sola St.
- Coaches shared contact number with citizen to address concerns in real time
- Principal Jones provided the city noise ordinance and instructed citizen to download a decibel-measuring application to provide information any time the school has violated the decibel-level
- Worked with district IT staff to review speaker system in football, baseball, and softball stadiums to identify any upgrades or replacement equipment needed
- District IT staff ordered new mixers for baseball and softball that will allow more robust level limiting (awaiting delivery)
- District IT staff hired third party audio professional to provide training to SHS staff on the operation of audio equipment
- District IT staff removed bass frequency from voice channel at baseball field and minimized on music channel
- District IT staff tested baseball audio system while citizen was at home for real-time feedback.
Feb 2024 news: Working to SOLVE problems. Steve M., a TamiSola resident, has been in communication and working with School staff and City staff over the last YEAR AND A HALF (so far!) in an attempt to get SHS to reduce some of this noise encroachment on the neigborhood. He has even gathered signatures on a petition from over 100 local residents concerned about this issue. Following is a report from SHS Principal Ryan on measures the school has taken, so far, to remediate this issue. Thanks to Steve; he got this done!!!
Feb 22, 2024
Sarasota High School's Efforts to Mitigate Sound Production
(courtesy Principal Ryan Chase)
The following efforts have been made since August of 2022 in response to a citizen's complaints about and requests to mitigate the sound generated at Sarasota High School's campus:
- Several meetings, phone calls, and emails to discuss, review, and address concerns
- Lowered bell/announcement volume to a minimum level while still maintaining a standard for safe emergency operations; had it triple checked
- Softball speakers redirected toward center field
- Softball sound system bass frequency turned off (citizen requested to do this himself with softball coach)
- Softball team uses portable speaker during practice instead of stadium speaker to alleviate sound produced
- Baseball speakers repositioned toward center field and speaker facing guest stands repositioned to face the ground
- Noise barrier installed around Chiller Plant on East side of campus -- 3/4 around perimeter to still allow for trucks and other access through fencing
- Communication with stadium announcers to keep volume levels at minimum
- Several instances where citizen called Safety and Security or emailed while administration was campus
- Removed portable speaker and installed new lock in batting cages to prevent access during non-school hours
- Individual conversations with students who rev engines and cause disruption driving down Tami Sola St.
- Coaches shared contact number with citizen to address concerns in real time
- Principal Jones provided the city noise ordinance and instructed citizen to download a decibel-measuring application to provide information any time the school has violated the decibel-level
- Worked with district IT staff to review speaker system in football, baseball, and softball stadiums to identify any upgrades or replacement equipment needed
- District IT staff ordered new mixers for baseball and softball that will allow more robust level limiting (awaiting delivery)
- District IT staff hired third party audio professional to provide training to SHS staff on the operation of audio equipment
- District IT staff removed bass frequency from voice channel at baseball field and minimized on music channel
- District IT staff tested baseball audio system while citizen was at home for real-time feedback.
sarasota_high_school_noise_response.pdf |
And now, on to OTHER school items ...
SHS New Principal effective Sep 2023, Former Principal David Jones has moved on to a leadership position within the School District. New principal is Ryan Chase. ryan.chase@sarasotacountyschools.net (941) 955-0181
SHS construction & Hatton Street 2024-2026. They are doing a big renovation project for part of the Sarasota High campus. To start, they will be moving the classrooms into the portable classrooms village, probably by January. (As of Oct/Nov they have been installing, plumbing & wiring even more portables.) It's a BIG project, so they are doing it in six phases; it is expected to take two years. As regards Hatton Street, I was told that they will be fencing off that shell lot west of Shade (across from the batting cage), plus the grass field east of Shade, to use for staging materials & equipment, worker parking, and other construction needs.
2024 UPDATE: The Sarasota High School MURT. The final phase of promised (in 2019) pedestrian mitigation -- widening & landscaping of the sidewalk along Tamiami Trail in front of the Sarasota Art Museum has begun March 2024. The Murt page has details.
At the Aug 15, 2023 School Board Workshop, Jody Dumas presented schools updates including a brief summary of the Sarasota High School Master Plan. (You can view this on youtube, find it from the School Dept website., starting about 1hr & 50 minutes into the 3-hr video.)
Several significant changes are in the works (over the next few years -- no definite timeline yet): Tennis Courts, Performing Arts Center. See below.
September 2023: they constructed a fire road east to west across the northernmost edge of West Campus, for emergency vehicle access, paved the curb cuts and new public sidewalk sections there, reconstructed the little drainage swale impacted by fire road construction. Also, they are beginning a major HVAC (air conditioning) rehab of buildings on East Campus -- which is the reason they installed the "trailer park," that village of portable classrooms. Three grand oaks, which were deemed "in decline," were cut down to clear this corner of campus.
Several significant changes are in the works (over the next few years -- no definite timeline yet): Tennis Courts, Performing Arts Center. See below.
September 2023: they constructed a fire road east to west across the northernmost edge of West Campus, for emergency vehicle access, paved the curb cuts and new public sidewalk sections there, reconstructed the little drainage swale impacted by fire road construction. Also, they are beginning a major HVAC (air conditioning) rehab of buildings on East Campus -- which is the reason they installed the "trailer park," that village of portable classrooms. Three grand oaks, which were deemed "in decline," were cut down to clear this corner of campus.
Tennis Courts
SHS used to have tennis courts, committed to be open to the public off-hours, which were displaced long ago by other structures. Apparently there is a dire shortage of tennis courts throughout Sarasota (many closures), and the students are having trouble accessing play time at other facilities. They HAD been proposing to build on public greenspace in nearby Payne Park, which drew community opposition, but came up with, instead, an on-campus location: on West Campus, the northeast corner, behind the Bay Street homes, just west of School Ave, near the Chiller Plant. Image shows approx. location for tennis courts, AFTER, presumably, the current big HVAC project is complete and all the portable classrooms go away. |
Performing Arts Center
SHS is the last Sarasota County high school that still has an old auditorium but not a performing arts center. Plans show a new PAC, to be located off TamiSola, between School & Shade Aves, between two large SHS parking lots, where the softball field currently stands. No doubt, more info should be available in future... |