After Irma: Sarasota Students Won't Be Required To Attend Extra Days

SARASOTA, FL - Sarasota students won’t be asked to stay after the currently scheduled school year despite missing six days due to Hurricane Irma, Superintendent Todd Bowden announced. He credited the extra half-hour of instruction that is already part of the current school day. Classes resumed on Monday after the district canceled school on Sept. 8 as the storm approached Florida.

Sarasota schools posted on its Facebook page: “Due to an extra 30 minutes added on to the day from referendum dollars here in Sarasota County, Superintendent Todd Bowden recommended to the School Board today with unanimous approval this hurricane makeup strategy: Zero makeup days.”
The decision was met with approval in the 169 comments on the post. “Good job, Todd," one poster said.

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In a message to parents and staff, Bowden said: “The relevant state school board rule says Florida K-12 schools need to be in session for no fewer than 180 teaching days, or no fewer than 900 instructional hours.

“We have the extra half-hour of instruction each day because of the additional referendum dollars that have been approved by voters every four years since 2002. Our additional hours of instruction will make up for the extra storm days. We are so fortunate to have a supportive community that pulled together during Hurricane Irma and that makes public education such a priority in Sarasota County.”

The district has designated two hurricane make-up days on Nov. 22 and May 25 if days are missed due to other storms.

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