St. Lucie schools advance plan for century‑spanning history wall in district office

St. Lucie Public Schools staff presented a concept for a large, interactive history wall for the district office during the board’s Oct. 28 work session. Chief of Communications Lydia Martin and Dijon Jackson said the proposal would create a decades‑by‑decades timeline capturing school openings, superintendents, board membership, notable programs and milestone achievements and would include QR codes linking to audio and video. "More than a display, this wall will serve as a daily reminder of our shared commitment to educational excellence," Martin said.

Jackson said the wall would occupy about 77 feet along the human resources hallway and would use photographs, spotlights on significant people and events, and video scrolls for board members and superintendents. She described a proof‑of‑concept mockup and said the timeline could be expanded in future decades. Jackson said staff had already gathered historical materials and would continue research in partnership with the St. Lucie Historical Society and community donors.

Staff proposed forming a 15‑member committee to vet the items to appear on the wall: five members appointed by board members, five recommended by the superintendent and approved by the board, and five at‑large or former/current employees recommended by the superintendent and approved by the board. Jackson said the committee’s responsibility would include verifying historical accuracy and ensuring a broad range of perspectives. "The responsibility of this committee is we would make sure that the information that we're moving forward with is accurate," she said.

Board members asked about the time commitment for committee members and how the wall would draw visitors into the HR hallway. Staff estimated three to four committee meetings spread over a few months and suggested signage to direct visitors to the timeline. Board members also discussed photo selection and asked that, where possible, earlier or younger photos of board members be used; staff said board members would have final review.

Jackson and Martin said the wall would be installed in phases and would not be a one‑time finished product; additions would be made as the committee gathers more artifacts and media. The presentation emphasized the district’s aim to balance representation across communities and decades. The board did not take a formal vote on the concept at the meeting; staff said they would return with a final curated proposal for board review and approval.