BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) – Starting Tuesday, charter school operators can officially request classroom space at public schools with low enrollment in Florida.

Manatee and Sarasota school districts have already received interest from a Miami-based for-profit charter operator seeking space at a combined five schools. Back on Friday, Sarasota school leaders approved sweeping changes to fill underutilized space.

Pat Barber leads the Manatee Education Association. She would like her school board to also ease concerns among parents and teachers.

“The school board has to assure parents of public school students that they will have a plan on how to deal with what is current law,” Barber said.

Heather Felton is a school board member in Manatee County and said there’s a plan in place to counter th

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