Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/116876
THIS PHOENIX WILL NOT RISE Phoenix Academy is located off Shade Avenue in Sarasota. Photo by Rachel Hackney THE CLOSING OF A SARASOTA COUNTY SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT IS PROPOSED AS A BUDGET-CUTTING MEASURE By Scott Proffitt Staff Writer Barring the unexpected, Phoenix Academy dent Lori White told the School Board during its March 19 workshop. will exist no more next year. The public school opened in 2004 for students ���Kids prefer to go to their district schools and in grades 8 through 10 who needed extra ac- be with their friends,��� she added. ademic assistance. With just shy of 200 youth ���This has nothing to do with the quality of attending classes on education at Phoea school-year basis, nix Academy. But the Phoenix has been hisThere is no low-hanging fruit. We per-student cost far torically underutilized are cutting into the bone now. exceeds other schools since it was estaband is not sustainLori White lished, Sarasota CounSuperintendent able,��� White pointed Sarasota County Schools ty Schools Superintenout.