[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6679976,"mediaKeyId","2112838-37700e7c08a4b7274703797b8824f5ea","parentId",2112838,"title","Hernando County school board reviews updated multi‑phase expansion plan, requests more data before deciding on new high school","audioSeconds",7052,"startMs",84000,"endMs",7136000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112838-37700e7c08a4b7274703797b8824f5ea&start=84&end=7136","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112838-37700e7c08a4b7274703797b8824f5ea/thumbnail_84000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6679976/Hernando/School-Districts/Florida/Hernando-County-school-board-reviews-updated-multiphase-expansion-plan-requests-more-data-before-deciding-on-new-high-school","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679976-6093e7c070bb13d020515b53d97c7816/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202352&Signature=dJrz18VuWUTUVJO6soUN2kUKA-N23G2BW3sl5mnSnUA14xH-T7MqJmxgzXE0wu18Kkhj7XAYEy0zBUs7igGaneGDfk0m0OD2kYFYv-Xq~SWgLv1SU4m7yc86bN1GNOwHVuH9RIUbRRgkRt4nZRAvMAd918C0aECSfjiEDSP8CDGhIitKyK7vDagnNxYOC42KlBlRhuw4RzR5IN2~SLcpFcyBRbDW83WEU3dhgy7XKomZIQfZe8uJgQn9d3acdwbFOF31HgGp8JD0Wu43LHA-8SczHUTWz7nw12EHRKy4sRQNw~E93ahqhQMTPW0Y-yK1Q3pZYqIk5zQzCAcIl1uXPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hernando School District","date","2025-01-14T13:36:00Z","article","Jim Lipsey, who presented the district's updated expansion plan, told the Hernando County School Board at a workshop that the plan recommends continuing a multi‑phase program of classroom additions and targeted new construction to respond to residential growth and projected student enrollment.

The presentation, prepared for the Planning and Growth Management Committee, reviewed how Florida’s school concurrency rules and Hernando County code of ordinances assign development impacts, explained how the district calculates concurrency capacity using FISH and DOE utilization factors, and showed where development approvals and resident forecasts are creating pressure on specific schools such as Winding Waters K–8, Central High School, Nature Coast and others.

The update matters because, Lipsey said, the district is seeing both new development and population migration into existing housing. “School concurrency is actually required by, is mandated by Florida statutes,” Lipsey said, as he explained that developments that would push a service area past 100% may continue only if capacity will be in place within three years or a developer provides a legally binding mitigation commitment. He added the district tracks reserve capacity for developments and updates enrollment each October.

District staff used a November concurrency review of a proposed Woodland Oaks subdivision (207 single‑family units) to illustrate student generation calculations: staff estimated roughly 63 students from that development and applied a historical grade‑level distribution (about 46% elementary, 23% middle, 31% high school) when projecting where capacity would be needed. Lipsey said the district maintains a list of reserved seats and that those reservations reduce available concurrency capacity for later developments in the same zones.

The plan restates projects already under way as “phase 1”: a 30‑classroom addition serving Winding Waters K–8/Weeki Wachee High School (capacity 660–750 students depending on assignment), and a 20‑classroom addition at Eastside Elementary (about 440 students) that includes a new cafeteria and remodeling of the existing dining/administrative spaces. Phase 2 recommendations would reassign and reconfigure some of the classrooms created in phase 1, build a new three‑story 21‑classroom building for Winding Waters (an estimated $20 million for 21 classrooms, about 462 student stations), and reassign classrooms to raise Weeki Wachee High School capacity. Phase 2 also includes a separate multi‑step project at Central High School and Endeavor Discovery Academy (new 20‑classroom building for the academy, reassignments and cafeteria remodels).

Lipsey presented cost references drawn from recent DOE construction data and architects’ master plans. He said the district’s estimate for phase 2 as presented is about $48 million in capital costs. He also described a larger alternative — a new technical/high school on the east side — with estimates cited in the presentation ranging from roughly $82.8 million (per‑student‑station math at 82,810 per station x 1,000) to larger planning figures of $125–153 million depending on scope and whether athletic facilities and site improvements are included.

Board members pressed for more detail and asked the staff to return with clarifications. Board Member Susan Duvall highlighted student travel burdens from the east side and bus fuel costs, citing transportation director Ralph Leach’s figures that roughly 1,249 middle and high school students currently travel up to an hour and a half each way, at about $100,000 a year in fuel. Board Member Johnson said that, based on the board discussion, he would prefer building a new high school earlier (moving it into phase 2) if feasible. Other members urged caution because of cost and site constraints.

Members discussed seat management alternatives short of new construction, including increasing enrollment at magnet schools to relieve zoned schools and redrawing attendance boundaries. Lipsey said moving magnet enrollment toward 100% would pull students from zone schools and would reduce pressure at certain schools, but cautioned that changes would shift seats across the district and require administrative and policy steps.

Board members also examined district land holdings discussed in the plan. Lipsey said an 80‑acre parcel on McKeithen Road is partially in floodplain and would require substantial site work to host a full high school with athletics, while noting the parcel could still accommodate smaller academies or a middle school depending on buildable acreage and mitigation costs.

On scheduling, Lipsey said phase 1 is on track to begin construction in late spring 2025 and be ready by spring 2026; he described phase 2 as tentatively scheduled for 2027 and phase 3 timing as subject to change. Board members asked staff to provide additional data on: up‑to‑date reserved capacity as zoned (not just as issued), demographic forecast details (including voucher trends), the value and feasibility of selling or repurposing district land such as the McKeithen parcel, and an analysis that compares long‑term operational costs of additions versus a new school.

At the workshop’s close board members asked staff to return with those items and agreed to a follow‑up workshop on phase 2 and the supporting financial analysis before taking binding votes. Lipsey and architect staff said guaranteed maximum price (GMP) packages for the phase 1 contracts would be presented to the board for approval following preconstruction work.

District staff and board members stressed there was no final decision at the workshop and that next steps would be a data‑driven follow‑up. “We have to decide what we’re going to do and where we’re going to put our money,” Board Member Duvall said. The board scheduled further discussion and asked staff to circulate the additional materials requested prior to the next meeting.

Ending — The board’s workshop produced detailed technical and financial discussion but no final vote. Staff will supply the additional requested data and bring phase 2 back for a dedicated workshop; phase 1 design and GMP steps will proceed as previously authorized and be presented to the board in separate action items for approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hernando School District - School Board Workshop on 2025-01-14 2:00 PM - Jan 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Jim Lipsey, who presented the district's updated expansion plan, told the Hernando County School Board at a workshop that the plan recommends continuing a multi‑phase program of classroom additions and targeted new construction to respond to residential growth and projected enrollment.","taxTitle","Hernando, School Districts, Florida","taxId",13114,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6679972,"Board directs staff to draft tighter overnight‑trip rules after debate over Airbnb/VRBO use for school travel",1643,4733000,6376000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112838-37700e7c08a4b7274703797b8824f5ea&start=4733&end=6376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112838-37700e7c08a4b7274703797b8824f5ea/thumbnail_4733000.jpg","/articles/6679972/Hernando/School-Districts/Florida/Board-directs-staff-to-draft-tighter-overnighttrip-rules-after-debate-over-AirbnbVRBO-use-for-school-travel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679972-d0bd73e2497be44a4e95d64f4e6a5920/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202352&Signature=TcUk6o7vH40kmcrciUeQGN5HReJmTWPo7dQ6HKEi17DAD~WjytceXlt8Hy1u2w6gmz9rOqVkI~dXtd00nvfGdN8yRN-jQfTnY0gh9dxcipHtvPTrIOZXXyyLHWe~yPH1bFejTnyDlTM3YsZobQQoE5LylFeZ6WlutD1nCn~rihDzQS9L7EBrEu-N6WsyexnDJOT7yKDntDD-XZPHyAZUupoLFlMeZsCoPO~lv8vpV8-nTzcrgWThjJXPKP5UvTYbyxGRcxG6q-SOWX7VPSspvORSq-VK7mEgo4SyP3IwxCCMl8P2Lmkt7uy2FR-fHGySFKu9lZT0L7sjPSyd5pRBKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coach Dustin Kupchuk presented research the board requested on the district’s use of short‑term vacation rentals (Airbnb, VRBO and similar) for overnight student travel and described advantages and risks associated with each lodging option.

Kupchuk, who said he reviewed peer‑district practice, told the board some Florida districts prohibit vacation rental use for school travel while others allow it with controls. He listed common advantages cited by coaches and athletic staff — lower cost for larger teams, more communal space for team activities, full kitchens for group meals and the ability to control access to the student group — and contrasted those with listed risks: no on‑site staff, potential hidden cameras or exterior surveillance, inconsistent property standards and uncertain compliance with safety features such as smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.

Coaches and staff argued cost savings can be substantial for larger squads. “Cost is definitely the big one,” Kupchuk said, and noted that, in his review, larger homes can reduce lodging costs compared with multiple hotel rooms. Kupchuk recommended the board consider clear written requirements if the district allows rentals: detailed itineraries, amenity lists, emergency contact and host information, and chaperone ratios tied to trip type (for example tighter ratios for water activities or out‑of‑county travel).

Board members raised safety and liability concerns. Board Member Susan Duvall said she could not support using private vacation rentals for overnight student stays given security uncertainties. “Safety always has to come first,” Duvall said. She said she would support hotels or a vacation‑rental product that is managed under the umbrella of a major hotel brand if those options can meet district safety standards.

Board Member Johnson agreed the board should act to reduce cost where possible, but suggested the district explore approved travel vendors or travel agents who could negotiate hotel discounts and streamline bookings. Several board members favored creating a district vendor or preferred‑provider list for hotels, rental cars and airfare to gain volume discounts.

After discussion, Board Member Duvall asked permission to draft a change to policy 2340 (field trips) to make explicit that Airbnb and VRBO style vacation rentals are not permitted for overnight student lodging and to align overnight‑trip paperwork and procedures across the athletic handbook, staff handbook and field‑trip forms. Several board members agreed; the board also asked staff to ensure that athletic trip forms and academic‑enrichment trip procedures are distinct where appropriate and to add clear chaperone rules (for example separate male/female chaperone requirements for co‑ed groups, and ratios for water‑related activities).

The board did not take a formal vote at the workshop. Instead members asked staff and the board member to draft a policy amendment and revised procedures for formal consideration at a future board meeting. Kupchuk said he would provide additional model language and examples from other districts if requested.

Ending — The board signaled it will restrict or tightly regulate vacation‑rental lodging for overnight student travel and directed staff and a board member to produce a policy amendment and revised trip procedures for a future meeting. It also asked staff to pursue preferred‑vendor agreements to reduce hotel and travel costs for teams.","After a presentation on the pros and cons of using vacation rentals for overnight team travel, the Hernando County School Board directed a member to draft a policy amendment restricting Airbnb/VRBO use for overnight student stays and asked staff to align district procedures and forms","actionData","errors"]

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Hernando County school board reviews updated multi‑phase expansion plan, requests more data before deciding on new high school

Board directs staff to draft tighter overnight‑trip rules after debate over Airbnb/VRBO use for school travel