Sarasota Schools Protest Staff Cuts, Vow to Keep Teachers

0:00It's April 29. From your city to your ears, this is Tampa Bay News today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Students and teachers in Sarasota, Florida rally Tuesday against major staff cuts in their school district. Sarasota County Schools plans to unassign 136 teachers and other educators starting June 30, blaming tight budgets and dropping enrollment numbers. District leaders point to state funding shifts, like money going to school voucher programs and schools of hope, as the root of their shortfalls. They've been pushing hard to boost teacher pay amid these pressures. Protesters, including parents, worry about the fallout for kids. Some driven students might lose out on guidance while others slack off without. Oversight, one school board member defended their spending, saying they're stretching every dollar from Tallahassee as far as it goes. The district insists, this isn't permanent, unassigned staff get first dibs on openings from retirements or resignations.

1:00They're running a clear process with union partners to slot people back in before hiring outsiders. As enrollment shakes out this fall, expect more tweaks, but the focus stays on keeping qualified folks in classrooms where they're needed most.