Sarasota’s public schools are at a crossroads - hosted by the Democratic Women's Club, the Democratic Public Education Caucus, the Sarasota-Charlotte Democratic Progressive Caucus and the Next Gen Dems.

Over 130+ teaching positions have already been eliminated, with up to 180 total positions being cut. At the same time, $45 million is being diverted away from our public schools through universal voucher programs.

These decisions are happening right now, and they are directly impacting our students, teachers, and classrooms. This is not a local failure but is the result of decisions coming out of Tallahassee.

We’re coming together as a eQcommunity to demand accountability and action.

Join us outside State Representative Fiona McFarland’s district office for a community rally followed by a press conference, where you’ll hear directly from:

• A former Sarasota County School Board member on how  the real budget impacts community members, including students and parents
• Local education experts on how we can fight back against these cuts and protect our schools 

Our Demands

• Repeal co-location provisions in the Schools of Hope law that allow for-profit charter schools expansion into public school spaces
• Restore an income cap on voucher programs to ensure public dollars are used to fully fund public schools

Why This Matters

Our A-rated public schools are the foundation of our community. When funding is stripped away, it means larger class sizes, fewer resources, and fewer opportunities for our kids. We cannot allow decisions made in Tallahassee to quietly dismantle what generations have built.

Event Details

📍 Outside Rep. Fiona McFarland’s District Office, 2700 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 

📅 April 28th 

🕞 Rally: 3:00 PM

🕓 Press Conference: 4:00 PM

This is your chance to stand up, speak out, and be part of the fight for Sarasota’s public schools.