Robyn Marinelli, who is not seeking re-election, was the swing vote.
By Rhatia Murphy
Original Air Date: July 22, 2026
Host: The Sarasota School District is in a financially tight spot, struggling to counter declining student enrollment. Hard budget decisions are ahead. But a last-minute surprise motion by Tom Edwards moved the spotlight on a different issue at yesterday’s school board meeting. Rhatia Murphy reports.
Rhatia Murphy: In a surprise vote at the very end of Tuesday’s meeting, the Sarasota County School Board reversed one of its most controversial decisions of the past year.
By a narrow three-to-two vote, board members agreed to move regular board meetings back to 6 p.m, beginning with the first regular meeting in August.
The board had voted by the same margin just months ago to move meetings to 10 a.m, drawing criticism from parents, teachers and community members who said the daytime schedule made it difficult for working families, students and teachers to attend.
Board member Tom Edwards made the motion. He argued that evening meetings aren’t just about convenience—they’re also about rebuilding community engagement and even strengthening enrollment.
Tom Edwards
Tom Edwards: I’d like to see those students back in here. I’d like to see the moments of pride. I’d like to see our community being engaged with our students.
RM: Edwards said returning to evening meetings will help make the school district look better.
TE: I believe this is a mechanism that will help increase enrollment.
RM: The motion was seconded by Liz Barker. The swing vote was Robyn Marinelli. Last fall, she voted in favor of moving meeting times to mornings, and she is not running for re-election.
There was no discussion before the vote.
Robyn Marinelli
We tried to reach Marinelli by phone but didn’t hear back before deadline.
A conservative parental-rights Facebook group attacked her in a meme asking “Robyn Marinelli, what happened?” and depicting her as “The Weak Link.”
Karen Rose and Bridget Ziegler voted against the motion.
Earlier in the meeting, the board also took the first formal step toward approving the district’s budget for the coming school year.
District leaders presented a tentative budget of about $1.3 billion, while noting that operating expenditures are expected to decrease by roughly 2.2% compared with last year. Officials also said the district’s tax rate would decline as property values continue to increase.
But administrators warned that enrollment remains one of the district’s biggest financial uncertainties.
They pointed to continued charter school expansion and the growing use of Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship program, both of which affect district funding.
Terry Connor
Terry Connor: That is why we’ve been hard-pressed to market our schools to make sure that every student is taking advantage of our district managed schools as possible. Ultimately, while the revenue passes to us through the state to the district, it then passes through us to the charter schools for those students who enroll there, so we’re monitoring closely, of all the revenue coming in, how much will be district and how much is then passed on to, say, charters.
RM: The board also discussed increasing meal prices for students who purchase breakfast and lunch, citing higher food and operating costs.
And Superintendent Terry Connor highlighted another milestone for the district.
Every district-managed school is now rated either A or B by the state. 35 of the district’s 40 schools earned an A rating, and both Emma E. Booker Elementary and Booker Middle School received A ratings for the first time.
Emma E. Booker Elementary School is now an “A” school. | Photo by Emily Le Coz, Suncoast Searchlight
TC: We are now, in our district-managed schools—the ones that this school board gets to oversee and operate—100% are rated A or B. All of our district-managed middle schools are rated A.
[Applause]
TC: And, for the first time ever, Emma E. Booker Elementary and Booker Middle School reached their A status.
[Applause]
RM: The board’s next meeting is scheduled for July 28, when members will continue work on the district’s budget before the start of the new school year.
For WSLR News, I’m Rhatia Murphy.
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