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PRAISE FOR A PROJECT Venice Middle School students enjoy the hands-on approach of the new TechActiv Classrooms of To- morrow. Photos courtesy Sarasota County Public Schools TEACHERS, STUDENTS THANK SPONSORS OF NEW MATH/SCIENCE INITIATIVE IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY SCHOOLS By Scott Proffitt Staff Writer The meeting room was as full as some regu- lar attendees had ever seen it, for the Oct. 2 meeting of the Sarasota County School Board. Had some controversial issue drawn angry residents out on a weeknight? Was the board going to address a hot agenda item? No, the audience comprised mostly teachers, students and their parents, coming to say, "Thank you" and sing the praises of a project that is changing the way students are being taught in the Sarasota County Public Schools — the TechActiv Classrooms of Tomorrow. These TechActiv Classrooms have been in use in all the district's middle schools since the beginning of this school year, but the School Board meeting provided an opportunity for a celebration of several years of in-house plan- ning and design. It is the opinion of many educators, scientists and world leaders that the sort of innovative teaching demonstrated in these Classrooms of Tomorrow is vital in helping prepare students for careers in a modern world focused more and more on technology. The 50 Sarasota County Classrooms of To- morrow were funded primarily by such local organizations as the Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice, though support also