Sarasota, FL -- This week, Sarasota County schools are getting some good news. The Florida Department of Education announced yesterday that $3.5 million in federal funds will be awarded to the county's school district over the next four years.

Similar funds, which will come from Florida's Race to the Top initiative to implement locally developed education reforms state-wide, have been awarded to 29 districts so far.

A total of 65 districts are expected to be approved by the end of January, each receiving a portion of the program's $700 million budget.

Approved districts will be given a portion of their funds each quarter during the next four years.

Osprey, Florida -- A Pine View School 11^th grader will participate in the semi-finals of the American Mathematical Society's national competition, Friday, January 7^th in New Orleans.

For more information, read the following press release sent out by the Sarasota School District:

OSPREY - Anthony Grebe, a junior at Pine View School, is one of 10 high school students from across the U.S. who will compete in the semi-finals of the American Mathematical Society's national competition, "Who Wants to Be a Mathematician." The event will take place from 10:30 a.m.-noon, Friday (Jan. 7) at the 2011 Joint Mathematics Meetings of the AMS and the Mathematical Association of America, an annual conference of about 6,000 mathematicians. This year's event will be held in New Orleans.

Venice, FL - As high school students head into holiday vacations, Venice High School is getting ready for some major construction in the first week of the new year. The 50-year-old landmark in Venice will be almost entirely rebuilt during a $95 million construction project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

At 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, staff, students, and community members will gather to mark the official start of the project in a groundbreaking ceremony. While site work is already underway, the event will allow the Sarasota County School District and City of Venice to celebrate the occasion. Guests will congregate on the new practice field, located at 1 Indian Ave. in Venice.

The event will include remarks from school district officials, Venice Mayor John Holic, members of the design and construction teams responsible for the new building as well as presentations and performances from students.