Sarasota's schools faced a tough fight. You stood up for us. | Opinion
In public education, some victories are not always visible, but they can be among the most impactful.
Recently our district and community faced a complex issue involving the treatment of voter-approved school millage funds and the commissions associated with their collection.
At its core, the question was simple:
When the community votes to support its public schools, should those funds go fully to students, teachers and classrooms – or should they be subjected to interpretations that could divert resources elsewhere?
Many in Sarasota County know this issue had already created significant concern locally, including the potential for ongoing legal disputes and the redirection of funds that voters clearly intended to support public education.
Those funds are not abstract; they represent teacher salaries, student support services, school safety resources and opportunities that directly impact every child in our district.
Bill clears up confusion
That is why the action taken in Florida House Bill 7031E matters so deeply.
Within this broader tax package, language was included to clarify how commissions related to school millage collections are handled.
This clarification provides much-needed consistency and avoids a harmful, unnecessary conflict among local governmental entities.
Most importantly, it protects the voters' intent.
When citizens approve a school millage, as Sarasota County voters did in 2024 with the highest approval rate in the state, they do so with the expectation that those dollars will be used to support students and educators – not diminished through legal ambiguity or intergovernmental disputes.
Clarifying this framework helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used exactly as promised.
It also prevents what could have become a prolonged and expensive legal battle – one that would have required public funds to be spent on litigation rather than on student learning.
In a time when every education dollar matters, avoiding that outcome is not just prudent; it is essential.
We want to personally thank state Rep. James Buchanan for recognizing the importance of this issue, and for leading the effort to secure a solution.
Additionally, we appreciate the partnership and leadership of the state legislators, community and business leaders – as well as the Sarasota citizens who were in support of this legislation.
This effort reflects the strength of our elected officials and the power of collaboration in addressing complex challenges.
Leadership is often demonstrated not just by advancing new ideas, but also by stepping in to resolve problems before they escalate, by listening to local concerns, understanding the real-world impact of policy decisions and acting with clarity and purpose.
This was one of those moments.
Because of this effort, our district and others across Florida can focus on what matters most: supporting students, strengthening our workforce and continuing to build high-quality public schools that serve every family.
On behalf of our students, educators and families, thank you for your leadership, your partnership and your commitment to protecting the integrity of voter-approved funding for public education.
This guest column was jointly authored by Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Connor and Sarasota County School Board members Bridget Ziegler (chair), Robyn Marinelli (vice chair), Liz Barker (District 2), Tom Edwards (District 3) and Karen Rose (District 5).
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota's schools faced a tough fight. You stood up for us. | Opinion
Reporting by Terry Connor, Bridget Ziegler, Robyn Marinelli, Liz Barker, Tom Edwards and Karen Rose Guest columnists, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 7:28 AM.