School District of Manatee County officials say all schools will be closed for several days this week as Hurricane Milton moves toward a predicted landfall on Florida’s west coast. On Sunday afternoon, district officials announced that schools will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. All school activities will be canceled on those days.

With the School District of Manatee County opening the K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch, as well as a school for grades 4-8 in Parrish in 2025, and more schools the following year, Wysong said the district will not create an attendance zone yet for the Lakewood Ranch K-8 school.

Several local schools have announced closures as Hurricane Milton, now a Category 1 storm, barrels toward the Sarasota Bradenton area.

Tropical Storm Milton is expected to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane. Sarasota and Manatee counties are directly in its current path.