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New schools coming to East Zone in next five years

By MEGHAN BRADBURY - | Oct 28, 2021

Dr. Ken Savage, Superintendent of Schools

news@breezenewspapers.com

The five-year plan for the School District of Lee County includes five new schools in the East Zone.

Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage said each of the projects start with a plan.

“Our schools are about 12 months to design and then about 18 months for construction after that. It’s a two and a half year process if all things go well,” he said.

The plan for the East Zone includes one new elementary school, two middle schools and one high school within five years, as well as an innovation K-8 school.

“It’s a pretty substantial task. If you were to compare this particular work plan to prior year plans, it’s a substantial increase in the East Zone construction process,” Savage said. “Everything has to follow a logical progression of steps before opening up doors for schools and increase capacity. There is a substantial increase in the amount of schools in the East Zone and where those schools are in the East Zone.”

Planning Growth & Capacity Director Kathie Ebaugh said they are looking at permanent capacity in the East Zone because the portables in the East Zone are aging out, opening up permanent seats in a physical building.

“If we own a portable, the state statute is 20 years, that it is permanent capacity,” she said. “Portables we currently own count in permanent student stations. The portables that we own right now will be taken off of our records. (It’s) one of the reasons you see such an increase today over the number of student stations in the East Zone. While we still own them and use them for swing space and capture unforeseen growth, it’s free space to us as long as we maintain them. It does not count against us in terms of capacity.”

She further explained how capacity is determined, which is different for elementary schools.

For example 1,000 student stations at an elementary school is exactly that, 1,000-student capacity. For middle schools, the capacity number is 90 percent of 1,000, with only 900 student stations. At the high school level the capacity is 95 percent, excluding 50 student stations.

There is a capacity number assigned annually to each school. Budget Director Kelly Letcher said they try to grow growth in some schools underutilized to help schools with too many students.

In the East Zone in the five-year plan with one elementary school, two middle schools, a high school and innovation K-8 it will generate approximately 7,200 student stations.

Board member Gwyn Gittens said although she knows they are doing something now in the East Zone, they still are spending time, energy and staffing to build schools where they do not have that urgency.

“I will never understand that. Ninety-five of the portables in the East Zone were owned and deplorable and, because I brought it forward, they put a Band-Aid on it and fixed it up. Twenty-two were rented. Why are we still leasing them? Very convoluted,” she said.

Ebaugh said the state still expects the district to use portables that allow for the immediate capacity and placement of students in a growth position.

“If you want to build a road, a police station, park, or utility line, your local government (says) go ahead and do so. Build a school, go to Tallahassee first. (You) only get over capacity if your student stations exceed your capacity number and that includes if you own portables. If you own them, the state looks at those for 20-year period of 20-year capacity,” Ebaugh said. “If you want to rent them, it is not looked at permanent capacity. It allows to build schools and permanent buildings quicker.”