NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE
SCHOOL BOARD OF SARASOTA COUNTY, FLORIDA
RULE NO.: 8.10 RULE TITLE: Safety
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To modify the existing policy and to update procedures relating to school safety and reporting of SESIR incidents.
SUMMARY: These revisions remove align the reporting requirements for certain incidents with the appropriate Administrative Rule, rather than a fixed number..
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 773.06, 790.06, 790.115, 1001.43, 1006.062(3), 1006.07, 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 supervisor of each site or facility shall establish a school safety team which shall be responsible to identify, prevent and mitigate issues that pertain to safety, security, and emergency management issues and to advance the promotion of safety education and accident prevention program for that site. Committees shall meet a minimum of four times per year, preferably once per grading period.

II. Schools shall cooperate with the Law Enforcement Agencies, First Responders, and other agencies promoting safety education.

III. To assist in carrying out the responsibilities for safety, each principal shall appoint a member of the staff as school safety team coordinator.

IV. No person shall bring on any School Board premises or have in his/her possession or in his/her vehicle on any School Board property, any firearm, weapon or destructive device unless such weapon is required as part of his/her regular job responsibilities and authorized by Florida Statute and School Board Policy or except when permitted by law.

V. School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting. The Superintendent shall develop and implement procedures for timely and accurate reporting of incidents related to school safety and discipline and shall provide training to appropriate personnel in accordance with law and State Board of Education rules. The District will utilize Florida’s School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting (SESIR) Statewide Report on School Safety and Discipline Data to report the incidents of crime, violence and disruptive behaviors that occur on school grounds, on school transportation, and at off-campus, school sponsored events to the Department Of Education in accordance with Rule 6A-1.0017 F.A.C.

A. The Superintendent will annually report to the Department of Education the number of involuntary examinations, as defined in section 394.455, F.S., that were initiated at a school, on school transportation, or at a school- sponsored activity.
B. The Superintendent must certify to the Department of Education that the requirements for timely and accurate reporting of SESIR incidents has been met.
C. School principals must ensure that all persons at the school level responsible for documenting SESIR information participate in the on-line training offered by the Department and ensure that SESIR data is accurately and timely reported.

VI. A child under the age of sixteen (16) shall wear appropriate headgear as required by law for any equine activity on a public school site. Students shall wear appropriate headgear when participating in an off campus, school sponsored equine activity as required by law.
VII. The Superintendent or designee shall require that hazardous conditions found on any School Board property be reported immediately and that reported hazards be investigated and corrected or removed, as appropriate.
VIII. School alarm systems shall be monitored on a monthly basis or more frequently as needed. Any malfunction shall be reported for immediate repair.

IX. The Superintendent shall develop appropriate emergency management and emergency preparedness plans.

X. The School Board delegates to the Chief of the Sarasota County Schools Police (SCSPD) Department the authority to develop and implement appropriate General Orders relating to the administration of the SCSPD. These General Orders must comply with State law and may not be inconsistent with the provisions of any School Board Policy or collective bargaining agreement(s) between the School Board and any bargaining unit representing members of the SCSPD.

XI. With the approval of the School Board, the Superintendent is authorized to install metal detectors and other security devices which would assist in the detection of guns and dangerous weapons in school buildings and/or on District property.



STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 1001.41, 1001.42, F.S.

LAW(S) IMPLEMENTED: 773.06, 790.06, 790.115, 1001.43, 1006.062(3),
1006.07, F.S.

HISTORY: ADOPTED: 08/21/01
REVISION DATE(S): 09/01/09, 06/17/14, 10/02/18,
08/06/19, 01/21/20, 12/07/21,
02/20/24, 09/2025
FORMERLY:
NOTES: Originally written in collaboration with NEFEC.

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.