To choose or not to choose? In Florida, like other states across the country, the answer today is choice. With the enactment in July of House Bill 1, also known as universal school choice, Florida dramatically expanded school choice options for K–12 education, including access to an educational savings account, and that has meant students and families can receive scholarship funds to attend non-public schools or access tutoring and other support systems.

The question now facing Floridians is not, then, to choose or not to choose. Instead, the question is how to build the best framework, with strong accountability measures, that keeps students at the center and that ensures the most underserved students in our state and certainly here in Sarasota County access the resources they need to find the educational pathways that will best meet their unique needs.

Developing such a framework will require productive, collaborative community engagement. It will require the varied perspectives listen with open ears, seeking common ground. And it will certainly require an unwavering focus on what’s best for students, especially those students who need the most support.

This past Thursday, the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club hosted an insightful discussion titled “HB1 Universal School Choice: Bane or Benefit?” As a Tiger Bay board member, I was able to help assemble four remarkable, thoughtful individuals representing many views on the impact of school choice (broadly) and House Bill 1 (specifically).

It was important to bring together diverse voices to explore this issue productively and respectfully. Public education has become a political hotbed, and our panelists were able to provide civil discourse on this important issue.    

Collaborative problem solving that promotes broader community buy-in can create more effective, longer-lasting solutions. That’s why I’m convinced that the voices of many must help guide our work.

At the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, we are planning to provide educational navigators to help families, especially those from underserved communities, know their available options. Understanding that school choice is a reality in Florida today and that many of the students who could most benefit from additional resources are not accessing them, we want to develop a model that builds off our work to provide students with relationships that make a difference. 

There is tremendous power in individualized relationships. Every day, our Student Success Coaches, Resiliency Success Coaches, and mentors work with students one on one. They get to know them and understand their specific needs and the challenges they face. With this understanding and from a place of trust, these coaches help students develop a viable plan for life after high school. They provide hope and steady encouragement and help students access the resources necessary to prepare to succeed.    

Today, we are exploring how that individualized approach can translate to help low-income and minority students access the right K–12 programs. We want to help these students customize their learning so that they have the best chance to reach their full potential.    

The Tiger Bay luncheon this past Thursday was one of what I hope will be many more constructive discussions around important educational topics as diverse stakeholders from across the community, the state, and the country collaborate to create a framework that does the most for each and every student. As we design our own model as an educational navigator, a model that best supports students—and public education—we want to hear from the community. We want to hear from leaders, educators, and families, so we can champion the amazing schools across Sarasota County while reaching underserved students and helping them uncover their ideal pathways. 

Today, it’s no longer the question to choose or not to choose. It’s a question of what public education might look like tomorrow, and getting this one right is of the utmost importance. The next generation and the health of public education depend upon it.

Jennifer Vigne is president and CEO of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Image courtesy Pixabay.

A community park is a great treasure for any-sized metropolis. These green spaces offer a natural respite from the pace of city life and a place for people to come together to enjoy activities with loved ones and the chance to make new friends. 

Parks are a tremendous boon: an overwhelming majority of U.S. adults—87%—say it is important for people to have fair and just access to high-quality park and recreation programs that create healthy, resilient, and economically vibrant communities, according to the National Recreation and Park Association. For this reason, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, in partnership with an anonymous donor, committed $1 million to support the Bay Park Conservancy’s free and accessible programming and uphold the entity’s commitment to create “One Park for All.”

Situated on 53 waterfront acres, The Bay is a location that welcomes all and boasts a calendar brimming with enticing options for entertainment, connection and exploration. 

This month marks The Bay’s first anniversary, and to celebrate, the park will host a festive five-day jubilee, The Bay Turns One!,  featuring non-stop events that promise the joys of community.  In addition to regularly scheduled favorites like nature walks, guided kayak and paddleboard tours and yoga, The Bay Turns One! has packed evenings with exciting entertainment. From energetic DJed dance parties like ¡Bailando For All! to concerts featuring sizzling artists, both local and those from beloved household names like Journey, the calendar of events has something for everyone.  

All are welcome to register for these events online, free of charge, and take part in the festivities to experience The Bay, our magnificent coastal surroundings and our diverse and unique community. I encourage you to take part in these activities, or to plan your own visit. By offering the space and time for everyone to come together, The Bay unites our community, instilling a sense of belonging for all. In this, The Bay provides an asset that is becoming more and more rare: common ground.  

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

Photo courtesy The Bay Sarasota Facebook page.

At State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, we see an upward enrollment trend that includes a greater percentage of students attending classes on one of our three campuses and taking more courses than in previous years.

This fall, we are serving more than 8,600 students, with the majority seeking their associate in arts degree followed by an associate in science or Bachelor of Science degree. SCF students are comprised of 63% female and 37% male, mostly from our local community, with 60 students representing 39 different countries. Our first-time in college students, many of whom are also first-generation, represent the largest group of SCF students. Returning adults, 29 and older, account for 19% of SCF’s total enrollment.

Like many other higher education institutions, SCF thought we would continue seeing our online programs grow. However, we're hearing that students miss being on campus and interacting with their peers, professors and SCF staff either one-on-one or in group settings.  “The engagement, encouragement and interaction with my SCF coach are invaluable,” noted a recent student enrolled in the TRIO student support services program. 

Our facilities, designed with student input, are also high on why students are back on campus. Our Libraries offer the latest technology yet have quiet spaces for students to study or collaborate. It’s also hard to replace the hands-on experience a student receives in a classroom, such as our film and music production studios, manufacturing and production environments, simulated medical and dental settings and bioengineering labs.

It also helps that at SCF, we meet our students where they are. We continuously work to expand programs that are in growing industries, cater our services to be student-centered and conveniently serve our community with flexible enrollment options. 

We’ve added degrees in business, healthcare, public safety and education. We’ve also expanded our partnerships to include prominent certifications such as CompTIA, Microsoft, Python, AWS, Cisco and other popular technologies through our Coding Academy. 

Additional student-centered programming is also bringing students back to campus. Our #GetHired events, which mentor and aim to help students be employed while enrolled or post-graduation, have received more student interest. Student Life offers more opportunities for students to get engaged through clubs and organized events, including advocating for the student body and SCF with our local delegation. SCF's Digital Collective and Entrepreneurship Center at our 26 West Center provides leadership, engagement, and mentoring opportunities with professionals and businesses in the local community to help them discover their passion and potential.

SCF courses and programs also cater to working, family-oriented and returning adult students, with classes offered in just about every format at various times, including evening and weekend options.

I’m proud to say that as your state community college, we continue to be responsive and flexible, providing engaging and accessible learning environments to meet the needs of our local community and its workforce. This is why we’re fulfilling our 2021-26 strategic goal to be the region’s first choice for higher education, economic development, philanthropic investment and cultural fulfillment.

Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld is President of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

Photo courtesy SCF.