Sarasota News Leader

01/11/2013

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Sarasota News Leader January 11, 2013 Page 56 NEW BUS DEPOT EXPECTED TO SAVE MONEY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT Sarasota County School Board Attorney Art Hardy reported to the board members at their Jan. 8 meeting that the North Port City Commission gave final approval Dec. 10 to the district's plans for a new school bus depot in that municipality. Superintendent Lori White told the board, "We know that if we can reduce the windshield time and the distance our buses need to travel, we save on fuel and time, which converts to money, so this is something that will be convenient for the bus drivers that are providing transportation for North Port, but it will be Hardy appeared before the City Commission also a money-saver." prior to the vote, he said, adding that he was Ken Marsh, director of long-range planning for able to overcome City of North Port concerns the district, told The Sarasota News Leader, about loss of property taxes for the parcel "It's a big deal because we'll be saving considwhere the facility will stand as well as ques- erable operating dollars. It's all ready to go for tions about the responsibility for upkeep of August or shortly thereafter. The facility will the private roads that will lead to the depot. handle 75 buses, two bays and a mechanic." The depot will be built on land owned by the school district. It is expected to be completed by the start of the next school year, according to staff reports. The bus depot will sit on 8 acres of a 50-acre parcel near Price Boulevard and Toledo Blade Boulevard. Scott Proffitt NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH BEING OBSERVED IN SARASOTA President Barack Obama and retired Gen. Colin Powell are diligently promoting National Mentoring Month, as is the Harvard School of Public Health, Sarasota County School Board members heard during their regular meeting on Jan. 8. Community Services, Girls Inc. of Sarasota County and the YMCA. Kathy Chamberlain, director of the Sarasota Family YMCA's Mentor Program, told the board, "This is one of the most important programs we do." The School Board on Jan. 8, issued a proclamation in support of National Mentoring Month and declared January Mentoring Month in Sarasota County. Her office is actively involved in the mentoring program in Sarasota County. "Our school district has over 500 mentors in The program has national as well as local im- our schools," said Tanice Knopp, coordinaport, and best of all it has nothing to do with tor of the Partnership and Alliances Linking Schools (PALS) program in the district. the fiscal cliff. Anyone who has as little as one hour a month to offer to children may contact any of the above organizations or the PALS office, palThe board also recognized several organizasoffice@sarasota.k12.fl.us. To reach Knopp, tions in the community that actively train and call 927-9000, Ext. 31500. recruit mentors, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Suncoast, Jewish Family and Scott Proffitt

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