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Putnam board announces Kelly Smith Elementary as site for second Palatka elementary; study cites $4 million savings
Summary
Board members said the district has selected Kelly Smith Elementary as the preferred site for a second Palatka elementary school after a methodical study; county and city intergovernmental partners signaled agreement and the district said the choice could save about $4 million compared with other sites.
The Putnam County School Board on Jan. 14 announced it has selected Kelly Smith Elementary as the preferred location for the district’s second elementary school in Palatka, a choice the superintendent and board members said follows a multi‑factor study and intergovernmental review.
Why it matters: Site selection affects construction costs, traffic circulation, and long‑term capacity planning. Board members said selecting Kelly Smith Elementary could reduce the construction cost by roughly $4 million compared with other potential sites and will require coordination with county traffic planners.
Superintendent’s staff and board members described a methodical study that evaluated student population, traffic circulation and land‑use considerations. The district reported that the Palatka site recommendation was discussed with the county and city during a PSAC (intergovernmental) meeting and that local partners agreed with the approach.
Board member David Thomas (chair) and others urged the district to hire or consult a traffic engineer or land‑use planner to vet circulation patterns and drop‑off configurations as designs progress. The board asked district staff to return with recommendations and said it may review proposed plans in a workshop or regular meeting.
Board members cited ongoing construction at the high school and recent visible progress at the middle school wing as additional context for the district’s capital program. The superintendent also noted the district’s recent presentations about career pathways and aeronautics programming as part of broader district activity but did not link those programs to the site decision.
Ending: District staff said they will continue design and intergovernmental coordination; the board asked staff to return with a recommendation from a traffic engineering/planning firm to inform the next steps in site planning and drop‑off design.
