Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/235968
Sarasota News Leader January 3, 2014 150,000-square-foot Sheriff's Office administrative center; a joint training facility; a four-level, 570-space parking garage; and a 25,000-square-foot building combining the Sarasota County Medical Examiner's Office with the Sheriff's Office's Forensics Unit all could be located on the 1301 Cattlemen Road property at the intersection of Porter Way. Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Lori White says the district has no choice but to close Phoenix Academy after the current school year ends. The per-student cost at the school far exceeds the expense at other district schools "and is not sustainable," she tells the School Board during a March 19 workshop. Al Weidner, the district's deputy chief financial officer, says it costs $11,766 per Phoenix Academy student, whereas the average expense for a middle school student in the district is $8,622; for a high school student, it is $8,007. Phoenix Academy has been open Page 30 since 2004 for students in grades 8 through 10 who needed extra academic assistance or were at risk of dropping out of school. On March 19, the Sarasota County Commission unanimously approves a revised Procurement Code — a process that began in June 2011 after the county's purchasing department was wracked by scandal. One facet of the new code allows the county administrator or his designees to approve the purchase of something costing up to $100,000. Anything less than $5,000 can be bought by an employee with a county purchase card if the price is generally about the same at any place the item or service can be procured. Anything costing between $5,000 and $24,999.99 requires three verbal quotes. An item or service valued between $25,000 and $99,999.99 necessitates three written quotes. Anything at the $100,000 level or higher requires a bid or proposal process. Because of budget constraints, the superintendent of the Sarasota County Schools recommends closing Phoenix Academy after the 2012-13 school year. File photo