In our almost 40 years of history, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s focus has consistently been on education. Not only do we manage one of the largest scholarship programs for traditional students and adult learners of its kind in the state of Florida, we have also invested tens of millions of dollars into our region’s schools, teachers and students so we can maximize their ability to be successful in life. This is because of the generosity of our donors who are passionate about education being the key to a successful future, particularly for students who face a number of obstacles through no fault of their own. While our region is generally known for its wealth and abundance, these obstacles are magnified in Sarasota County schools, where over 50 percent of our 42,000 students are on free and reduced lunch, an indicator of where they fall around the poverty line. However, we are fortunate to have a school district that has been an engaged and committed partner to ensuring all students succeed, no matter their circumstances. 

In the past and to this very day, philanthropy has allowed our schools to be flexible, innovative, and on top of growing trends around the country, leading to excellence. We have been proud of the success of our two-generation initiative working with both vulnerable students and their parents on a path to a better future.  The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, which is helping to address the achievement gap between at-risk children and their more affluent peers, is working as more students are reading on grade level, thanks in large part to charitable investments. Additionally, EdExploreSRQ and Any Given Child have ensured that we are providing arts integration for our students, especially those from low-income households.

As many of you know by now, Sarasota County voters on March 20 will have the opportunity to vote on the extension of the Sarasota County School District’s 1-mill local-option property tax, a bipartisan effort that has consistently been supported by our community’s voters for the past 16 years. The tax, which will generate around $55 million for the district this year, has been a major factor contributing directly to our district’s “A” rating and allows our region to attract and retain some of the best and brightest teachers from across the country. More specifically, the funding allows extra instructional time during the day for students, preserves cultural programs and other experiential learning opportunities, as well as continues to enhance safety and security at our schools.

If these resources suddenly disappear, the achievements and effect of these last 16 years will begin to deteriorate. While philanthropic dollars from local donors and foundations have provided a margin of excellence, they by no means can make up a $55 million shortfall. Innovation will be stifled, and challenging decisions would have to be made regarding the future of our students and community.

At the end of the day, this referendum directly affects our region’s kids and their ability to begin life with a head start. Our board has recently come together to publicly show support for the referendum, knowing it is a civic issue impacting our community’s future. Please know that as a community foundation, we cannot support a political candidate, however, we are able to take a position on a public policy issue and to advocate for the passage of a ballot measure that effectively betters our community.  The Community Foundation has supported educational initiatives for almost 40 years, and we are  asking that our community come together to vote “yes” later this month, as we have done so since 2002. The most vibrant and robust communities are the ones in which people invest in other people. This is truly what makes our home special, and we hope you will continue the momentum of student success building over the past 16 years by once again supporting the referendum.

Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.