Sarasota School Board poised to give Asplen emergency power Tuesday morning amid Hurricane Ian

Steven Walker, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
Sarasota County School Superintendent Brennan Asplen during a school board meeting held at Longboat Key Town Hall on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
Sarasota County School Superintendent Brennan Asplen during a school board meeting held at Longboat Key Town Hall on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

The Sarasota County School Board is holding an emergency meeting at The Landings Tuesday morning following catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ian.

The 9 a.m.emergency meeting has only one item on the agenda: to pass an emergency resolution giving Superintendent Brennen Asplen emergency authorization to act in response to Hurricane Ian. The morning's meeting replaces the already canceled School Board work session and meeting previously scheduled for Tuesday.

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The resolution for the meeting says the board wants to "move with all deliberate speed to protect, secure and if necessary reestablish and rebuild" facilities damaged by the storm. If approved, the resolution would allow Asplen to "act on its behalf to do any and all things necessary" to provide for school operations "without the need of a formal School Board action or quorum." The superintendent could also act in concert with the board chair.

As of Monday evening, Sarasota County Schools were closed until further notice with no official word on a timeline to reopen as the district assesses damage to its properties, according to district officials.

Read more: Manatee County schools to resume Tuesday, Sarasota schools remain closed amid Hurricane Ian damage

Also: Hurricane Ian batters east county, and 3 things to know in Manatee County

"At this point, Sarasota County Schools will remain closed until further notice," Superintendent Brennan Asplen said in a video address. "We will reopen once we can ensure the safety and well-being of all of our students and employees in our schools."

The district also scheduled a press conference for a few hours after the meeting at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Suncoast Technical College.

Rosemary Shuster and Paul Shuster both from Englewood, sit in the gymnasium at the Venice High hurricane shelter on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022 in Venice, Florida, following Hurricane Ian. This was the third shelter they had been relocated to in a week. "It's so hard to get info", she said. "I would love to know when I get power back."
Rosemary Shuster and Paul Shuster both from Englewood, sit in the gymnasium at the Venice High hurricane shelter on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022 in Venice, Florida, following Hurricane Ian. This was the third shelter they had been relocated to in a week. "It's so hard to get info", she said. "I would love to know when I get power back."

The extent of damage was still unclear as of Monday evening, but south county evacuees from North Port High School, Heron Creek Middle School, Woodland Elementary School, and Taylor Ranch Elementary were moved to schools farther north because of flooding and road damage.

Two schools were still being used as shelters as of Monday, according to the district. Tatum Ridge Elementary was being used as a shelter for medically dependent evacuees and Venice High School for the general population.

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Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota School board to hold emergency meeting Tuesday