Nearly 500 students from two overcrowded South County schools could be reassigned to Garden Elementary in Venice under a redistricting plan headed to public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The Sarasota County School Board will take public comment on the proposal at 5 p.m. at its chambers at 1980 Landings Blvd. in Sarasota, the Venice Gondolier reported.

Garden Elementary, established in 1974 on Center Road in Venice, is being rebuilt. The new facility is expected to open in August 2027 with a capacity of approximately 950 students, according to the district's project page. The Gondolier reported the project cost at $60 million.

By May, officials had narrowed seven redistricting options to one, according to the Gondolier. The recommended plan, called Option G, preserves part of Garden's current northwest boundary, includes a portion of Laurel-Nokomis zoning and follows the Taylor Ranch boundary to Center Road.

Under Option G, Garden Elementary would gain 102 zoned students from Laurel-Nokomis and 379 from Taylor Ranch. Venice Middle would gain 76 zoned students from Laurel-Nokomis. The goal is to relieve overcrowding at Laurel-Nokomis and Taylor Ranch while filling the expanded Garden campus.

That would reassign 481 students to Garden Elementary and 76 to Venice Middle, for a total of 557 students under the proposal.

The district's current project FAQ says students entering fifth grade at Taylor Ranch and eighth grade at Laurel-Nokomis in the 2027-28 school year may choose to remain at their currently zoned schools for their final year. Current students attending Taylor Ranch or Laurel-Nokomis through traditional school choice may also remain until they complete the school's highest grade level.