Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Lucie district details $100 million Westwood rebuild and upcoming school projects
Summary
Superintendent John Prince outlined capital projects that include a $100 million rebuild of Fort Pierce Westwood, refurbishments at CA Moore, and multiple proposed K‑8 and high‑school projects to open over the next 5–10 years.
Dr. John Prince, superintendent of St. Lucie Public Schools, told the board the district is investing in a series of construction and reinvestment projects intended to modernize aging campuses and provide first‑class facilities across the county.
Prince said the district made a $100,000,000 investment to rebuild Fort Pierce Westwood and is spending “millions of dollars” to refurbish CA Moore and add a gym; CA Moore will become a K‑8. He listed a set of growth projects with projected timelines: Legacy High opening within months (on time and on budget), Western Grove projected to open August 2026, Southern Grove planning to start March 2026 with an August 2029 opening, and other planned K‑8 campuses including Village Green and Palm Point with staggered openings. He said Wilder (a development name, not the final school name) could open in about eight years if growth continues.
Prince explained the district uses impact fees to offset growth‑related construction costs and reiterated that “impact fees can only be used on new development,” limiting their use for renovation and reinvestment. To support revitalization of older campuses and maintain competitiveness with charter and private schools, Prince said the district must be “creative” and consider combining multiple schools into a new K‑8 in Fort Pierce; he said a proposal would be discussed at a July 29 workshop.
Prince said the half‑penny sales tax renewal approved by voters provides roughly $25 million a year for capital needs, including air conditioning and roofs. He said the district will consider adding academic wings to some campuses to manage growth rather than building a new high school, depending on enrollment trends.
Prince framed the reinvestment initiative as a commitment to equity across the county and said board discussion in executive session had emphasized that “all means all” when distributing capital resources. He asked faculty and communities to review proposals at public workshops rather than learning about them secondhand.
Prince noted some project timelines are contingent on continued growth and further board decisions; he said specific planning and boundary recommendations will be presented to the board before actions are taken.
