The Alachua County School Board met Wednesday to discuss potential renovation and construction projects.
The projects included the expansion of Oak View, Lincoln and Mebane Middle Schools following district rezoning initiatives. Other renovations include Citizens Field, middle school gyms, high school tracks and a new classroom building at Newberry High School.
The board also considered plans to repurpose Foster Elementary School’s building following the school’s closure.
Renovation and construction projects
The board decided at the meeting to move forward with seven capital projects.
Three of the projects stem from the district’s rezoning initiative, known as the “Our Schools — Future Ready” plan. The initiative consists of the consolidation and rightsizing of schools.
Oak View Middle School will convert to a pre-K through eighth grade school in the fall. New construction is estimated to cost $32 million.
Mebane Middle School will convert into a third through eighth grade school ahead of the 2028-29 school year. Renovations and new construction will total roughly $65 million.
Lincoln Middle School will become a kindergarten through eighth grade school by Fall 2028. The total cost for renovations and new construction is estimated at $96 million.
In addition to school consolidations, the board proceeded with four additional capital projects.
These projects include renovations to Citizens Field. Estimated at $30.5 million, the construction will follow an interlocal agreement that transfers ownership of the field from the city of Gainesville to the school board.
The board will vote to approve the interlocal agreement at a June 16 board meeting.
Some schools will undergo renovations.
A nearly $5.5 million project would fund gymnasium repairs at High Springs, Westwood, Howard Bishop and Mebane Middle Schools.
A project costing just over $1.7 million will rubberize the tracks at Eastside and Newberry High Schools.
A new classroom building at Newberry High School is estimated to cost $5.4 million.
Altogether, the projects total more than $236 million.
The board anticipates using certificates of participation to fund the first four projects. Certificates of participation are a form of tax-exempt financing used by municipalities to fund large capital projects.
The other three will be financed through the district’s capital funds. Capital funds are intended to be used for larger, long-term projects rather than day-to-day purchases.
The board will approve the financial plans for the projects at a July 28 meeting. From there, district staff can move forward with the design and development process — with board approval in stages along the way.
Foster Elementary School
The board also discussed district plans to use Foster Elementary School’s soon-to-be vacant building for family services.
Called Foster Family Services and Professional Learning Center, the facility will allow parents and community members to meet with district personnel to address any questions or concerns.
The center will have staff available to speak about extended day programs, adult education, homeschooling, student records and an array of other school-related topics.
The repurposing of Foster Elementary School does not need to be voted on by the board. Instead, it is a project that would be approved by Superintendent Kamela Patton.
Still, board chair Thomas Vu expressed support for the idea.
“I just really love this idea,” Vu said. “It just saves time. It just adds so much efficiency to so many people's days.”
It is unclear if Patton has approved the proposal. The next school board meeting is scheduled for June 16 at 5:30 p.m.
Contact Grace Larson at glarson@alligator.org. Follow her on X @graceellarson.
Grace Larson is a second-year journalism student and this summer's metro editor. She previously worked as city/county commission reporter and K-12 education reporter for The Alligator. When she's not editing stories, Grace enjoys running, weightlifting and going on random side quests. If she's not at her desk, you can find her at any place offering free food and crafts.
