Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/107047
Sarasota News Leader February 1, 2013 Page 61 CITY HIRES INTERIM HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR Stacie Mason has been appointed interim human resources director of the City of Sarasota by City Manager Tom Barwin, the city announced Jan. 25. Affordable Care Act, she helped the city secure a $675,000 reimbursement for the city's medical fund, the release points out. The City of Sarasota was one of the first municipalities Mason is a general manager overseeing em- in the nation to enroll in the program before ployee compensation, benefits, and risk and funding was depleted, the release adds. safety management, a city news release says. Mason also has assisted with Teamster neFor the past several months, she has been gotiations and facilitated the opening of an transitioning into the new position, the release notes. She will officially take on the interim employee health center to help lower medical position beginning Friday, Feb. 1, the release costs for the city, the release says. In addition, she has managed the city's self-insurance adds. funds for medical, workers' compensation and "Stacie played a key role in facilitating the hir- liability issues, it notes. ing of our new chief of police and incoming finance director and utilities director," said This is the fourth major department chief's poBarwin in the release. "I was very impressed sition Barwin has filled since starting work as with her and her attention to detail with those city manager in early September, the release important processes, which are culminating in points out. His first appointment was Chief an assembly of exceptional talent and dedica- of Police Bernadette DiPino. He subsequenttion," he added in the release. ly announced the hiring of Finance Director Mason has worked for the City of Sarasota John Lege and Utilities Director Mitt Tidwell, for 10 years, the release notes. Through the it adds. SBEP RECEIVES GRANT TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) has received an EdExploreNEXT Grant to support environmental education benefiting local students, the nonprofit organization has announced. SBEP partners for the grant include Sarasota County Natural Resources and Around the Bend Nature Tours. The funds will be used to purchase equipment teachers can use in their classrooms to enhance student activities, the release notes. PIER includes field trips and The $25,000 grant was awarded by the Arts curriculum lesson plans. and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County to support the SBEP PIER Education Program, a The EdExploreNEXT Grants are part of a largnews release says. PIER stands for Protection, er focus by The Patterson Foundation to supInvolvement, Education and Restoration, the port community education, the release says. release points out. More than 40,000 students The initiative includes EDExploreSRQ.com, a from public and private schools have partic- public website hosted by the Sarasota School ipated in the program since 2003, the release District that is designed to give teachers access adds. to learning opportunities, the release adds.