Board adopts 5-year district facilities work plan projecting eight new facilities in five years

The St. Johns County School Board adopted its statutorily required five-year district facilities work plan, a document that summarizes enrollment history, capital projects, relocatable-classroom use and long-range building projections.

Facilities planner (presenter) explained that the plan incorporates a 5/10/20-year planning horizon and uses multiple inputs — capital budget, educational plant survey, FISH inventory and COFTE (capital outlay full-time-equivalent) projections — to estimate seat needs and revenue. The board heard that the district remains a growing district; the presentation cited current enrollment around 52,335 students and showed COFTE growth that has moderated from earlier higher rates but remains positive.

The five-year plan lists projects already under construction — including a K–8 (PP) in Rivertown and an expansion at Southwoods Elementary — and anticipates two additional K–8 openings in 2026 (labeled QQ and RR in the plan), two elementary schools (one identified as the southern elementary funded from sales tax), and one new high school (referred to as High School JJJ) over the five-year window. The plan also shows a strategy to reduce relocatable (portable) classroom use from about 25% of students toward roughly 2% over the next five years as permanent seats come online.

Ms. Covey (district facilities) told the board that state COFTE projections are lower than the district's observed enrollment trend, which can limit state funding eligibility for new seats; the district nonetheless plans to use local and borrowed funds to meet demand. Board members thanked staff for the work and discussed the historical effects of the class-size amendment on building needs.

A motion by Ms. Slough, seconded by Ms. Barrera, approved the five-year district facilities work plan by voice vote.