SHS Sound Study September 2026

A few issues I have noted with this study:  it notes that several measurements were not of actual activities (due to time of year of measurement), but rather measured only staff demonstrations of sound levels that they claimed to be "at typical level."  For instance, actual football announcer sound levels were not measured, and no such measurements were done at neighboring north, east or west residential neighborhoods.  

In the larger, comprehensive City-wide sound study it is noted that such actual measurements will be made in Phase 2 & 3.  That study can be viewed from a link on our News page blurb.

Also noted many times in this study is the fact that School-produced sounds are EXEMPT from City sound ordinances anyhow.

This is a technical, 61-page document, too large for me to post here.  Although I cannot find the full study posted on the School Dept web pages, I will email the full study, as an attachment, to any interested readers:  just email your request to  kindalitch@gmail.com 

Thanks to Alta Vista resident Steve M., and to SHS Principal Sean Donovan, for providing me the document.

EXCERPT

Hepner Architects 

Sarasota High School 

Sarasota, FL 

Site Noise Measurements Study  

September 2, 2026 

INTRO

The attached Site Noise Measurements Study for Sarasota High School in Sarasota, Florida, presents acoustical measurements of the football field, baseball field, batting cage, softball field and chiller-yard sound relative to the current City of Sarasota Sound Ordinance.  

CONCLUSIONS 

Acoustical measurements of ambient sound levels and typical school activities including the Football Field 

PA system, baseball field activities, batting cage activities, chiller operation and softball field activities 

were conducted for an approximately 1 week period of time to determine if any of these sounds exceeded 

currently regulated sound levels in the City of Sarasota Sound Ordinance.  The City of Sarasota provides 

exemptions for the following:

a. Non-amplified crowd sounds resulting from otherwise lawful public gatherings 

b. Sound produced by activities in the fields, grounds or facilities of any sporting venue to 

which the public or community has access; 

c. Sound made by children and adults on public or private schools and athletic grounds 

located thereon, during school curricular or extra-curricular activities  

1. It was found that the sounds from the PA system at the football field exceed the sound level 

limits for amplified music in the City of Sarasota Sound Ordinance at the property lines.  

These sounds are likely exempt.  

2. It was found that sounds from the Chillers are below the sound level limits for continuous 

sources in the City of Sarasota Sound Ordinance at the property lines. 

3. It was found that the sounds from the Batting Cages exceed the sound level limits for impulsive 

sounds in the City of Sarasota Sound Ordinance at the property lines. These sounds are likely 

exempt. 

4. It was found that the amplified music from the Baseball Field and Softball Fields were below 

the sound level limits contained in the City of Sarasota Sound Ordinance.  The unamplified 

crowd noise on both fields exceeded the numerical sound level limits for amplified music, but 

unamplified crowd noise is specifically exempt from the requirements of the current Sound 

Ordinance.   

5. These results are representative of the conditions that were measured that staff indicated were 

typical operating levels.  If operating conditions changes for any of these activities, these 

results may change.