More than 20 Sarasota schools are facing low enrollment.
By Josh Salman
Original Air Date: October 3, 2025
Host: A heated debate over public school closures, charter expansions, and what it means for Sarasota County families is unfolding. Josh Salman with Suncoast Searchlight has this report.
Josh Salman: In Sarasota County, Wilkinson Elementary—a small, tight‑knit public school—may be forced to close at the end of the school year under preliminary plans from the school district. The move is intended, officials say, to prevent a charter operator from taking over underutilized space within district facilities.
Wilkinson is currently rated “C” but stands out as the only public school in the county that holds national STEM certification.
If it does close, its roughly 400 there students would be reassigned to nearby struggling schools like Alta Vista, Brentwood, and Gulf Gate—and Wilkinson’s physical campus would be repurposed to serve as the school district’s headquarters.
Wilkinson Elementary School in Sarasota could be closed at the end of the school year to avoid a charter school moving in. Photo by Emily Le Coz, Suncoast Searchlight
The proposed closure has stirred strong backlash. Parents, teachers and community members have packed emergency meetings, launched petitions and pressed local legislators and school board members to rethink the plan.
Some school board members now say the plan is not final, suggesting there may still be alternatives.
But Wilkinson is not alone. State data reveal that more than 20 Sarasota County schools have lost significant student enrollment over the past decade—including some of the district’s most prestigious institutions.
Pine View School for the Gifted is one of the top-ranked public schools in the nation, but its enrollment has dropped by hundreds of students over the past decade, state data show. Photo by Emily Le Coz, Suncoast
One especially high-profile example: Pine View School for the Gifted. Once enrolling over 2,180 students in grades 2–12, its student body has declined to about 1,750—a drop of nearly 430 students.
Because of new state legislation, that empty capacity could make any public school a target for charter operators to move in. The law allows charter schools to co‑locate on public school campuses that have underused facilities or empty student stations.
Under the new rules, the public school system would be responsible for utilities, busing, custodial services and even meals for charter students—all at no cost to the charter operator.
This sweeping change builds on Florida’s expanded “Schools of Hope” program. Until now, the program focused on underperforming or Title I schools, but the recent rewrite allows charter operators to move into any public school with room to spare—regardless of the school’s academic rating.
Critics argue this opens a back door for large, out-of-state educational entities to “squat” on public school campuses, shifting costs onto local districts and destabilizing traditional public education.
One local education advocate, Holly Bullard, warned that the “legislature essentially granted large, out-of-state entities squatters’ rights in our schools.”
District leaders say they are scrambling for strategies to protect public schools. Options under consideration include: restructuring school zones, boosting programming to fill empty seats or closing one campus (like Wilkinson) to safeguard others.
A formal proposal to shutter Wilkinson is scheduled for discussion at the October 7 school board meeting, with a final vote possibly taking place on November 18.
Liz Barker
One school board member, Liz Barker, put it plainly: “Any time you talk about closing a school, that guts you,” she said. “How can we preserve some of what makes Wilkinson special?”
For Wilkinson’s families, the stakes are deeply personal. Many purchased homes in the neighborhood because of the school’s proximity, its small size and its community feel. Now they feel blindsided.
One parent, Jodanna Osceola, told reporters:
Jody Osceola
“We bought our home so we’d be able to walk all of our kids to school…we chose Wilkinson for a reason,” she said. “I’m just going to keep trying (to fight) because I don’t want to lose my school.”
Teachers also say Wilkinson’s small size allows greater attention for each student and a sense of personal connection. They argue closing it would be a “quick fix” rather than a long-term solution.
As the district grapples with under‑enrollment, shifting demographics, school choice pressures and new state rules, the future of public schools in Sarasota County may hinge on the outcome at Wilkinson. If the district cannot find a path forward, more schools—even high-performing ones—could soon be in the crosshairs.
We will continue to watch developments closely, especially actions by the school board in October and November.
Reporting for Suncoast Searchlight, Josh Salman. To read my full article, go to suncoastsearchlight.org/wilkinson-schools-hope-sarasota-pine-view-enrollment.
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