Sarasota Military Academy moving forward with prep school

Sarasota Military Academy has received its needed approvals to move forward with opening a middle school next year. The Sarasota County School Board has approved a charter agreement, and the Starling Group Inc. has reached a lease agreement with the military academy.

The Starling Group is scheduled to start construction early next year on a facility, called the Sarasota Military Academy Prep, capable of housing 425 students its first year. Located on Fruitville Road two miles east of Interstate 75, the 59,000-square-foot campus will feature two classroom buildings, a gymnasium and a cafeteria/administrative building.

The initial term of the lease will be for 15 years, according to the school's headmaster and co-founder Daniel Kennedy.

The property will also feature room for a future third classroom building, which would allow the campus to handle up to 800 students.