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Board approves professional services agreement to create master plan for Marine Science Station
Summary
The school board approved a professional services agreement to produce a conceptual master plan for the district’s Marine Science Station; the first phase is conceptual planning and agency coordination, with additional design and engineering to follow if the board approves later phases.
The Citrus County School Board approved a professional services agreement to produce a master plan for the district’s Marine Science Station, authorizing the consultant to develop conceptual options that will be used to explore funding, permitting and future design steps.
What was approved The board approved a professional‑services contract (approximately $27,000 listed in the presentation materials) for a firm to prepare a conceptual master plan that will present multiple options and coordinate with state and regional permitting authorities, including the Department of Environmental Protection and water‑management districts. The master plan is a first step intended to determine what is feasible on the Marine Science Station site, to evaluate flood and coastal impacts and to identify next steps and estimated costs for future design and construction phases.
Board discussion Board members described the agreement as an initial, conceptual step—“kicking off the football game”—and emphasized the need to involve state permitting agencies and to produce multiple site‑concept options that consider coastal flood zone constraints. One board member, who has professional experience in engineering, offered volunteer assistance; staff said engineering services are provided under separate existing continuing‑services agreements and that additional design work would be presented to the board after the master‑planning phase.
Why it matters The Marine Science Station sits in a coastal flood zone and has sustained storm damage; producing a master plan will guide decisions about long‑term resilience, permitting and costs before the district commits to detailed design or construction investments.
Next steps The consultant will prepare conceptual options and agency coordination work. Staff expect to return to the board with options and recommended next steps and costs for later phases; any later design, engineering or construction would require separate board approval and potential funding allocations.
