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Main > About Us > Media Releases
Media Releases: December 12, 2003
Due to the delay involved
in acquiring sites for the proposed new elementary
schools planned for the northwest and southern parts of
the county,
the St. Johns County School District has decided to
postpone scheduling the opening of the new schools until
the land
acquisition process is complete. Elementary School “I” in
the northwest and Elementary School “J” in
the south were originally scheduled to open in August
2004.
The School Board approved the option contracts for
the two new elementary school sites at its regular
meeting
on October 2. While the School District continues to
negotiate the purchase of these sites, they have not
yet reached
agreement on the purchase price.
“
Until the land acquisition process is complete, we
are reluctant to set a schedule for the opening of
the new
schools,” said Dr. Joseph Joyner, Superintendent
of Schools. “We hope to be ready to make a decision
on these sites at the January 15, 2004 School Board
meeting. Once the sites are confirmed, we will
establish a construction schedule and potential opening
date,” he added. “Our
primary goal will be to set a schedule that will be
in the best interest of students and cause the least
disruption
in the learning process.”
The School District accepted bids for the construction
of the two elementary schools on
October 15. The Tower Group of Jacksonville was the
apparent low bidder and has agreed to extend their
bid through
January 2004. This bid will not be awarded until the
land acquisition
process is complete.
Funding for the two new schools was included in the
District’s
2003-2004 budget approved on September 17, and the District
has finalized the issuance of Certificates of Participation
(COP’s) to finance the construction of the two
new schools.
Two of the three major components for the construction
of the new schools are in place – a construction
bid that is within budget and adequate financing. However,
the project will be delayed until the site acquisition
can be finalized.
The District Five-Year Work Program/Plan has also been
updated and is scheduled for approval at the December
18 School Board meeting. In addition to the two new high
schools
(one in the northeast and one in the northwest), the
plan identifies one additional elementary school to be
built
in the northwest during the next two years. At its December
11 workshop the School Board agreed to expedite the process
for the construction of the additional elementary school.
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