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Sarasota News Leader December 13, 2013 Page 86 Sarasota County's dropout rate for the 2012-13 school year was 1.5 percent, an improvement over the 2011-12 rate of 2.2 percent, the release notes. The state dropout rate increased to 2 percent from 1.9 percent the previous year. the number of students who start in a school as ninth-graders in comparison to the number of students in the same class who graduate four years later, the release says. The dropout rate indicates the number of students who quit school in a single year, it adds. Students "The graduation and dropout rate are not are not counted as dropouts if it can be docdirectly comparable," the release points out. umented they have transferred to other The graduation rate is calculated by tracking schools, the release adds. DOWNTOWN SARASOTA BRIGHT WITH YEAR-ROUND TREE LIGHTS "Just in time for the holidays, another visible enhancement is bolstering the vibrancy of downtown Sarasota," the City of Sarasota has announced. Year-round decorative white lights have been installed in almost two dozen trees along Main Street, "creating a more festive atmosphere downtown," a news release says. Gulfstream Avenue to Orange Avenue, the release points out. "During this time of year we want our downtown to reflect the spirit of the holiday season with a festive streetscape that also attracts visitors and customers to our unique blend of specialty shops," says Norman Gollub, downtown economic development coordinator, in "Elegantly lit trees not only create a warm the release. ambience where people want to gather, but they also make people feel safe," John Moran, The illumination project became a reality Downtown Improvement District operations thanks to a partnership between the Sarasota Downtown Merchants Association (SDMA) manager, notes in the news release. and the Downtown Improvement District Click here to view a YouTube video featuring (DID), the release adds. the sights and sounds of downtown this week The SDMA presented the idea to the city, and with the new decorative lights. the DID funded the $14,000 project, which White lights are shining on each of the includes three years of maintenance and light 22 mature oak trees on Main Street, from replacement, the release notes. SARASOTA MAN APPOINTED TO SWFWMD GOVERNING BOARD Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Michael A. Moran of Sarasota to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), the district has announced. His appointment is for a term that began Dec. 5 and ends March 1, 2015, the release adds. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. The Southwest Florida Water Management Moran is filling a vacant seat that represents District Governing Board members set policy Charlotte and Sarasota counties, a news for the district, whose mission is to manage the water and related resources of west cenrelease says. tral Florida "to meet the needs of current and Moran is president of Insurance & Benefits future water users while protecting the environment," the release points out. Consultants.