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A new magnet school for 1,200 children in grades K-8 would go on Spring Hill property now owned by the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 17, 2003
Denied in its initial effort to obtain property for a new Spring Hill school, the School Board has secured a second site that actually was its first choice.
Board members unanimously agreed to a $1.05-million deal with the Diocese of St. Petersburg for a 38-acre parcel on Elgin Road just west of Barclay Avenue. The deal marked the end of a lengthy negotiation that nearly fell apart just a few months ago.
Closing is contingent upon the property's meeting several requirements and inspections outlined in the contract.
"The only reason we went after the Deer Street property was because we were having some problems with the final contract language with the people on Elgin," board Chairman John Druzbick said.
County commissioners rejected the School Board's request to rezone 41 acres on Deer Street at Linden Drive last week. Hundreds of residents near that site opposed having a school in their neighborhood, arguing the traffic would be overwhelming.
Druzbick figured the Elgin property should face much less resistance, if only because it already is zoned for a school. The diocese at one point had planned to put Notre Dame Interparochial School there before deciding on a different location.
However, the district still must seek county permission to revise the site master plan that the diocese has in place, said Chris Mettler, a planner in the county Planning Department.
"This should be less controversial" than the Deer Street rezoning request, Mettler said. "The question has already been answered: This is an appropriate site for a school."
The district's deal with the diocese somewhat mitigated the School Board's decision Tuesday to do without changes to the elementary school attendance zones. Crowding at Pine Grove and Floyd elementary schools remains a concern, but one that could improve in just two years with the opening of a new magnet school on Elgin.
"If you're going to redistrict and you're basically trying to download 250 kids (from Floyd and Pine Grove), why not just make it part of the weighted lottery?" board member Robert Wiggins suggested.
The new school is slated to become a math, science and technology specialty school serving about 1,200 children in grades K-8. Students would attend by choice.
Just one school will not solve the district's capacity problems, though, Druzbick said. The district could fill a new elementary school and middle school tomorrow, he said, before considering any coming growth.
Board Vice Chairwoman Sandra Nicholson is pushing for a new school on the east side, also. The district completed its $640,000 purchase of about 80 acres on McKethan Road on Tuesday. She said a kindergarten through high school campus might be one possibility there.
"I will be getting more information," Nicholson said. "It services a need, similar to private schools and charter schools. There's a need there. If that will fill the void and provide a good education . . . I would think people would be open to it."
New schools cost several million dollars, and the district does not have enough money set aside for construction. But Druzbick said the board has options, including the sale of bonds.
"The optimum way to do it is, we would truly like to see the sales tax be approved again," he said, referring to the district's 0.5 percent sales tax to support new school construction, which expires in December.
He expected the board would set an election on the issue next year.
-- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers education and politics in Hernando County. He can be reached at (352) 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com .