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Sarasota County School Board Reveals Two Members with Net-Worths Over $1 Million

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 10:57 GMT by Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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Sarasota County School Board Reveals Two Members With Net‑Worths Over $1 Million

By the Herald Tribune – November 12, 2025

The Herald Tribune’s latest coverage of Sarasota County’s educational leadership turns a spotlight on financial transparency within the local school board. The article reports that two members of the eight‑person board—an elected body that oversees a district of roughly 35,000 students—have disclosed net‑worths that exceed the one‑million‑dollar mark. While the board itself does not receive a salary, the disclosure of personal wealth has prompted discussion among residents, parents, and policymakers about the role of economic diversity in school governance.

Who Are the Two Members?

The Tribune’s report identifies the members in question as Dr. Mary L. Riley and Mr. Thomas K. Baker. Dr. Riley, a longtime community advocate and former school counselor, has served on the board since 2021. Mr. Baker, a real‑estate developer who has held the board seat since 2019, is known for his involvement in local infrastructure projects. According to the financial disclosure forms submitted under Florida’s “Transparency for School Boards” statute (effective 2024), Dr. Riley’s net worth is reported at $1.2 million, while Mr. Baker’s net worth tops out at $1.4 million.

Both figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and include a variety of assets—primary residences, investment accounts, and business holdings. Neither member has reported a net‑worth below $500,000, the threshold that would place them in a lower bracket in the publicly available ranking of all eight board members.

Context: The New Disclosure Law

Florida’s 2023 legislation requires all school‑board members to file an annual financial disclosure statement. The purpose is to guard against conflicts of interest and to promote accountability. In the Herald Tribune’s piece, a link to the Florida Department of Education’s School Board Disclosures portal is provided, offering readers a deeper dive into the broader set of documents that were released by the county board in December 2024.

The law mandates that members disclose:

• All properties owned (both primary and secondary residences);
• All financial accounts (brokerage, retirement, and trust funds);
• Any business interests, including direct or indirect ownership.

The article notes that the data for Dr. Riley and Mr. Baker were flagged by the county’s ethics office for “public interest” given the high net‑worth figures, prompting the Herald Tribune’s investigative follow‑up.

How Do These Figures Stack Up?

In comparison to the rest of the board, Dr. Riley and Mr. Baker stand out. The Tribune’s article provides a quick snapshot of all eight members’ net‑worth ranges:

Thus, over 25 % of the board’s members have net‑worths above the one‑million‑dollar threshold. The article also highlights that this is the first time in the district’s history that more than a quarter of the board has reported such high personal wealth, a fact that the Herald Tribune’s editorial section cites as a “significant shift in the socioeconomic profile of school board leadership.”

Public Reactions

The article captures several reactions from the community. A parent advocacy group, “Students First Sarasota,” expressed concern that the high net‑worths could indicate a disconnect between the board and lower‑income families. In a quoted statement, the group’s co‑chair, Angela Martinez, said: “While we appreciate transparency, we also want our representatives to reflect the financial realities of the families they serve.”

On the other side, a spokesperson for the Sarasota County School Board explained that the disclosed wealth is unrelated to board duties. “The board members’ personal finances do not influence policy decisions,” the spokesperson emphasized. “Our board’s priorities remain grounded in student achievement, equitable resource distribution, and community partnership.”

A local columnist, Robert Lennon, penned an op‑ed in the Tribune’s “Letters to the Editor” section arguing that wealth is not a bar to public service. “In a democracy, leaders come from all walks of life,” he wrote. “What matters is their commitment to public education, not their bank balance.”

What’s Next?

The Herald Tribune’s article ends by noting that the county’s ethics commission will review the disclosed information in light of Florida’s conflict‑of‑interest guidelines. Should any overlaps be identified—for instance, if Mr. Baker’s real‑estate ventures intersect with district purchasing decisions—action may be taken. The commission’s website is linked in the article, offering readers the opportunity to view the commission’s meeting minutes and any pending investigative actions.

Additionally, the article cites an upcoming town‑hall meeting scheduled for December 10, where board members are slated to discuss the budget and new school‑building proposals. The board has invited community members to submit questions ahead of time, specifically regarding how personal wealth may—or may not—impact fiscal decisions.

Takeaway

In a concise, fact‑driven article, the Herald Tribune outlines a transparency milestone for Sarasota County’s educational system: the first public disclosure that two of its eight board members hold net‑worths exceeding one million dollars. By contextualizing the figures within Florida’s new disclosure law, comparing them to peers, and reflecting community reactions, the piece offers readers a nuanced view of what such wealth means in the realm of public education governance. While the board members’ personal finances have raised questions about representation, the article stresses that the disclosure process itself is a step toward greater accountability—an essential component of healthy, democratic oversight of local schools.