Parents and kids gather outside Wilkinson Elementary in response to the school board’s potential closure announcement.

Excerpt on Wilkinson Elementary School Closure Considerations

Wilkinson Elementary School, established in the 1970s, has recently achieved the distinction of being the only nationally certified STEM school in the state. This achievement is now overshadowed by discussions surrounding its potential closure.

“Anytime you talk about closing a school like that, that guts you,” expressed Sarasota County School Board Member Liz Baker, highlighting the emotional weight such decisions carry.

The school board is deliberating the closure due to Wilkinson’s low utilization rates, recorded at 50% below capacity. This is not an isolated issue; three other elementary schools within the county—Brentwood, Alta Vista, and Gulf Gate—are also grappling with reduced enrollment.

“Wilkinson has struggled for a long time with being unrealized for several years,” stated Sarasota County School District Superintendent Tyler Connor, pointing out that it has consistently been the lowest performing among the four schools in question.

Laquisha Webb, a parent of three students at Wilkinson, voiced concerns over the potential disruption the closure would cause for her children, compelling them to adapt to a new school environment.

“If it were to close, I just feel like it would be a grieving period for them,” Webb remarked. “They would have to go to a different school. They would have to meet new friends. And of course, children are resilient. However, this is a huge impact.”

Should the closure proceed, the district plans to transition Wilkinson’s students to the three underutilized schools while repurposing the building into a district office.

Webb advocated for exploring alternative solutions, emphasizing that relocating the school board could be a less disruptive option. “I think there are other opportunities that they can move the board somewhere else,” she stated. “I mean, moving children from their school, from their home, is devastating for them. Moving a school board to another place is easier to move adults than it is to move children.”

Key Information

• School Name: Wilkinson Elementary School
• Established: 1970s
• Certification: Only nationally certified STEM school in the state
• Utilization Rate: 50% below capacity
• Other Schools Affected: Brentwood, Alta Vista, Gulf Gate
• District Plan: Move students to underutilized schools, convert Wilkinson to a district office
• Parent Concerns: Emotional impact on children, potential alternatives discussed