SCHOOLS update

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).

September 2023: they have constructe a fire road east to west across the northernmost edge of West Campus, for emergency vehicle access, including paving curb cuts and repouring the public sidewalk sections there.  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.

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.  (Unfortunately, this has resulted in the removal of three grand oaks, which they had deemed diseased or declining.)

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...