Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/239386
Sarasota News Leader January 10, 2014 Page 29 continuation of the special funding. Rod Thomson, the former executive editor of the Gulf Coast Business Review who heads up his own public relations firm, took the opposing view during the 90-minute discussion. out that while the perception is that Sarasota is an affluent community, over 50 percent of the students in the school system are receiving free or reduced-price lunches. Moreover, White added, the Sarasota district ranks above other Florida districts with lower perThomson maintained that no correlation can centages of people in poverty. be found between student achievement and the additional funding made possible by the She further countered Thomson's argument referendum dollars when demographics are by noting that when people take into contaken into consideration. "We were a Top sideration the young people who are able to Three district before the tax," he pointed out. find paths out of poverty as they grow up, the "We are a Top Three district after the tax," primary reason for their success has been according to research by the Tampa Bay education. "It's the hook that suddenly allows Times, he continued. those students to go beyond [a lower-income standard of living]. I will tell you that the arts When children grow up in a strong family, education is hooking a ton of kids that don't with two parents at home, "they excel," he have the advantages that your kids have," added, "and you cannot get away from that she told the audience members. Arts educafact in any of the data." tional offerings are among the "extras" in the "Certainly, we know poverty does impact per- district the referendum funds support, she formance," White said. However, she pointed pointed out. The School Board meets last October with Deputy Chief Financial Officer Al Weidner (far left) and Scott Lempe (to Weidner's right), the district's chief operating officer. File photo