Nassau school board workshop narrows capital-plan options for Callahan and Yulee-area schools

Acting chair convened a capital projects workshop in which Superintendent Dr. Burns and staff laid out options to address aging buildings and capacity pressures in Callahan and the Yulee attendance zone.

Dr. Burns said Callahan Elementary would require roughly $14.9 million in repairs over 10 years and presented an alternative to combine Callahan Elementary and Callahan Intermediate into a single permanent K–5 building that would add about 30 classrooms and carry an estimated $33 million price tag. “We believe that would be almost $15,000,000” in deferred infrastructure costs at Callahan Elementary alone, Dr. Burns said, framing consolidation as a long-term efficiency that could free capital for permanent construction.

The board spent the bulk of the workshop on three scenarios for Yulee-area elementary schools. Scenario 1 would keep three schools (Yulee Primary, Yulee Elementary and Wildlight) and make immediate renovations at Yulee Primary; staff estimated roughly $25 million in needed investments over the next 10 years for that school. Scenario 2 would build a new Chester/Pages Dairy Road elementary (approximately 850–1,000 seats) at an estimated $47–47.5 million, rezone attendance areas to target ~800 at Wildlight, ~800 at the new school and ~650 at Yulee Elementary, and close Yulee Primary; staff said that plan could save roughly $25 million over a 10-year horizon when renovation costs are considered. Scenario 3 would close Yulee Primary and convert Yulee Elementary into two K–5 campuses serving roughly 1,100–1,200 students; presenters cautioned that would concentrate large numbers of students at a single site and create traffic and safety concerns.

Board members raised concerns about traffic at key intersections, the feasibility of building up versus out (parking, elevators, and accessibility), and the district’s ability to finance multiple large projects simultaneously. Mr. Durry (board member) warned that sending 1,100–1,200 students to a single intersection on State Road 200 would create “a lot” of congestion; other board members worried that sinking major renovation dollars into older buildings could be short‑term fixes compared with new construction. Several trustees noted that Wildlight currently operates with multiple portables (staff said 28 portables exist at Wildlight) and emphasized capacity relief as a high priority.

Financial context: staff said the district has about $30 million in impact-fee funds reserved for a future school, and presenters recommended follow-up work with Ford & Associates to evaluate financing options, including the district’s leasing corporation and certificates of participation. No formal vote was taken; the board discussed removing Scenario 3 and coalesced around keeping Scenario 1 (status quo with renovation) and Scenario 2 (new school plus rezonings) as the two options for further study. Dr. Burns said staff will return with refined cost estimates, attachments (site/mitigation worksheets) and community engagement plans before any formal action is taken.

What’s next: staff will provide more detailed financial modeling and hold community meetings to explain the recommended direction and solicit feedback. Any formal decisions or authorizations would be scheduled for a future board meeting.