State College of Florida Puts Library Plans on Hold

New technology, changing enrollment trends and  a decline in state funding for building projects, prompted the Board of Trustees for the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota to suspend a project to replace the Bradenton campus library.

The board voted Wednesday to authorize College officials to terminate existing contracts with the architect and building contractor for the library.

While the board delayed the library, it approved applying for a $350,000 state grant to pay start-up costs of a proposed charter high school at the College’s Venice campus.

Board Chairman Carlos Beruff said trustees recognize that a new library is needed and should maintain its priority position on the state’s construction list. The college has already completed preliminary planning and infrastructure work for the library project.

“We want this Board to have an opportunity to revisit the library planning process and have input so we can effectively make the case for it in Tallahassee and to donors,” Beruff said.

In the meantime, the board is moving forward with a Charter School planned for Sarasota County. If awarded, the Public Charter School Grant will pay for planning, design and implementation of the SCF Arts+Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Collegiate School (SCF A+STEM).

The proposed charter high school is expected to open in August. The Sarasota County School Board is expected to vote on the charter school in February.

The College has a charter school on SCF’s Bradenton campus serving the sixth through eigth grades with plans to serve high school students. It is in its second year.