The Duval County School Board is considering additional school consolidations as part of the Master Facilities Plan in response to projected lower enrollments at some schools and increased construction costs.
News4Jax has an interactive map showing the changes to school enrollments. Parents have more options than ever when it comes to choosing a school, and JPEF has created a guide to help them select the best fit for their students.
The school district recently presented its proposed revisions to the Master Facilities Plan and the reasoning behind the consolidations.
The increased cost of construction materials is a factor in the decision on whether or not to consolidate some schools. Since the half-cent sales tax was approved in 2020, construction costs have risen sharply.
According to the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, "Concrete costs nationally have increased by 15%, lumber by 16% and steel by 22%." Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School, the first new-build school of the plan and the first new Duval County Public School to be built in 15 years, was originally projected to cost $28.7 million but actually cost closer to $40 million.
Although revenue from the half-cent sales tax is exceeding projections, so are the costs of building and renovating schools. You can check the status of the half-cent sales tax projects on the dashboard.
JPEF will be hosting an Advocacy Night on May 28 to discuss the proposed consolidations. For more information, contact Leofric Thomas, Jr. at leofric@jaxpef.org.
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