SARASOTA, Fla. -- Schools were closed Monday for President’s Day, but top school leaders in Sarasota gathered to discuss school safety.
The meeting comes after an anonymous tip from over the weekend about someone making threatening comments to Riverview High School. The sheriff’s office is investigating.
Suggestions from Monday’s school district closed-door meeting will be taken to Tallahassee Tuesday. The school board chairwoman, Bridget Ziegler, and Booker High School's principal will meet with the state education commissioner and other school leaders in Tallahassee as part of the governor's task force. Ziegler says it’s the first of many meetings on making schools safer.
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Sarasota Superintendent Dr. Todd Bowden asks for flexibility from legislators.
“Don’t limit school districts in any way. Give us the flexibility to work with law enforcement, work with school safety experts to figure out what the best answer is for individual schools and districts,” said Bowden.
“Personally, I’d like to see us ramp up the school resource officers. They play a pivotal role pre-active during and after an incident and continue to talk about infrastructure,” added Ziegler.
The district wants your input on school safety. Since launching the email site on Sunday called “school safety feedback” the district has received more than 400 emails. To give your input email the school district at schoolsafetyfeedback@sarasotacountyschools.net
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