NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE
SCHOOL BOARD OF SARASOTA COUNTY, FLORIDA
RULE NO.: 8.17 RULE TITLE: Emergency Disaster
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To modify the existing policy and to update procedures relating to school district responsibilities during emergency disaster operations in accordance with the current county emergency management plan.
SUMMARY: These revisions align our policy with the current process of our interlocal agreement with the county’s emergency management team.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:
The School Board has determined that this rule will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.
The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: No SERC is required at this time by FS 120.54 or FS 120.541. In the event a SERC becomes required, the School Board of Sarasota County, Florida will promptly prepare one.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding the statement of estimated regulatory costs, or to provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.41(2), 1001.43(4), Fla. Stat.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Sections 1001.43, 1012.23, 1013.372, F.S.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN CONFORMANCE WITH FS 120.54(3) AND 120.81(1)(d).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Chris Parenteau, Supervisor, Government Affairs, Sarasota County Schools. 1960 Landings Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34231. 941.927.9000
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 
I. The School Board recognizes that the use of its facilities and transportation services can be invaluable to this community in a crisis or emergency. Therefore, in the event of a local or State emergency and upon the request of the local emergency management agency, the District shall participate in emergency management efforts by providing facilities and personnel necessary to staff such facilities during a state or local emergency. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to establish a crisis management team whose members shall be trained in various emergency procedures.

A. Prior to June 1 of each year, the Superintendent shall develop, with local emergency management agencies, a list of schools to be used as emergency shelters.

B. Unless otherwise designated, the principals of the designated facilities shall be the “District shelter manager” and shall be responsible for services including, but not limited to the security, food services, and custodial services of shelter operations.

C. The Superintendent may authorize the use of custodians, food service personnel, electricians, maintenance employees, and other School Board employees to assist in the safe operation of the emergency shelter or disaster operation.

II. Transportation assistance provided by the School Board shall be coordinated with the department of emergency management. The Superintendent may authorize the use of bus drivers and assistants as needed to provide emergency transportation services.

III. In the event the superintendent officially closes a school, district office, or a combination of work centers to employees, the affected employees shall be paid for their regularly scheduled hours. Should the superintendent reschedule that workday for a later date on which the employee was not scheduled to work, the employee shall be deemed to have been compensated in advance, and will receive no additional compensation. The resulting rescheduling of days missed due to school closure will not have any financial impact on twelve (12) month employees.

IV. The Board recognizes that exempt and nonexempt employees who serve on the crisis management team and who staff the congregate shelters during a declared emergency will be providing services that exceed their contractual obligations by working on days and at times when other District employees are not required to be on duty. Compensation will be in accordance with the Superintendent’s pay policy for the specific event.

A. Hourly personnel asked to perform emergency-related duties will be paid according to current School Board pay schedules. Overtime will be paid consistent with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. All hours worked must be pre-approved by their supervisor, shelter manager or Superintendent and/or designee where applicable.

V. Following the use of District facilities as congregate shelters, the Superintendent shall calculate the amount spent during the period the facilities were used for congregate shelters that is above and beyond the usual and customary expenses to operate the facilities during that time period for the following:
A. Utilities (e.g., power, water, and telephone),
B. Generator usage (rental costs and/or fuel required),
C. Shelter safety and security, and
D. Costs related to use of buses and other vehicles, excluding operator costs.

VI. The Superintendent is authorized to submit the itemized total expended by the District for extra compensation for exempt and nonexempt staff, as well as the additional amount expended for the operation of the District facilities used as congregate shelters, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and/or appropriate agency for reimbursement. The Board shall be informed of the amount of reimbursement requested from FEMA once completed at a regularly- scheduled Board meeting.


STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 1001.41, 1001.42, F.S.
LAW(S) IMPLEMENTED: 1001.43, 1012.23, 1013.372, F.S. HISTORY: ADOPTED: 06/07/22
REVISION DATE(S): 09/2025
VII.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Chris Parenteau, Supervisor, Government Affairs in conjunction with Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor.
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: The School Board of Sarasota County, Florida
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: Approved for advertising on October 21, 2025. Final approval by School Board of Sarasota County, Florida is to be determined.
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FS 120.81(1)(d): September 23, 2025.