NORTH PORT — More than 10 years ago, when the Sarasota County School Board wasn’t listening to the city planner or local parents about building a high school here, a petition was launched and hundreds signed it.

Dozens of pages of signatures were taped together and the petition, which spanned about 50 feet, was unraveled during public comment at a School Board meeting by former city commissioner Tony Gustitus. He told members that North Port parents and local businesses wouldn’t quit coming to meetings and asking then to build a high school before 2010.