Changes, expansion coming for St. Johns County schools

Half-cent sales tax to fund new schools, technology, safety improvements

School board members narrowed down hundreds of suggestions. They've finally voted on names for two new schools. What was "School H-H" in Durbin Crossing has been named Patriot Oaks Academy. And what was "School I-I" in Nocatee, has been named Valley Ridge Academy.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County School Board has big plans for the extra half-cent in sales tax that was approved by voters in a special election Tuesday.

The tax will generate $150 million for the county's public schools over the next 10 years.

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The school board has already put together a project list that outlines the district's critical needs in four areas: adding and expanding schools, maintaining and improving facilities, providing new technology across the district and improving school safety.

Maintaining the structural integrity of schools includes replacing roofs and making site improvements.

"When children move in and they show up at school we have to have seats for them," Dr. Joe Joyner, the St. Johns County superintendent said.

READ: St. Johns County project list for new sales tax funds

The board said the amount of growth in the district was beyond what it was capable of handling on its current budget. Because of that, more than 370 portables were scattered at schools districtwide, costing $191,000 a month to rent.

"The longer we continue to rent portables the longer we delay having permanent facilities, the more money we have to put out for many portables and such," Joyner said.

Now that the half-cent sales tax was approved by nearly 61 percent of St. Johns County voters Tuesday, plans on where that money will go are already in the works.

Four new schools will be built: A K-8 school in Nocatee, an elementary or K-8 school near Greenbriar Road and Longleaf Pine Parkway, an elementary or K-8 in the World Golf Village and an elementary school in the southern part of the district.

The district also plans on expanding South Woods Elementary School and Liberty Pines Academy.

The board would also like to see additional technology used in schools, like laptops and tablets.

"We have expansions and new roofs that are needed, upgrading systems, those types of things need to happen across the district," Joyner said. "Also on the project list was district-wide technology upgrades for both infrastructure and tools and districtwide safety enhancements."

Joyner hopes to break ground on at least two schools next year, but said the board will put together an oversight committee in the coming weeks that will decide which needs are top priority.

The extra money will start coming in Jan. 1 and will generate an extra $13 million a year.