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Manatee outlines two new K–8 campuses, phased openings and voluntary reassignment plan to ease overcrowding
Summary
Superintendent and staff presented detailed plans for two new K—8 schools (East County and North County), recommended phased openings (elementary first, middle later), proposed a voluntary reassignment process for founding families to relieve overcrowded schools, and described instructional innovations and two-campus models for Harvey.
Manatee County School Board members spent a large portion of the workshop on detailed planning for a wave of new school construction and enrollment management meant to relieve overcrowding.
Superintendent Dr Weong and school planning staff described two major projects: an East County ground-up K—8 (two-story prototype for about 1,620 student stations) and a North County campus. Those projects are part of a multi-year plan to open five schools across three years to address rapid elementary-level growth in parts of Manatee County.
Opening approach and enrollment mechanics: staff recommended phased openings rather than immediate rezoning. For the East K—8 the proposal is to open K—5 in August 2025 and bring the middle grades online in 2026; staff proposed an initial round of voluntary reassignment "founding-family" seats targeting students who reside in Gullet Elementary's attendance area and are geographically proximate to the new site. The district said this voluntary approach uses the superintendent's existing authority under board policy 5120 to reassign students and is intended to relieve overcrowding at Gullet without creating the cascade of boundary moves families would face if lines were drawn twice in two years.
North County and Harvey two-campus model: staff proposed operating Barbara Harvey as a single K—8 across two nearby campuses (primary and upper) rather than as two separate schools. The plan would move existing fourth- and fifth-grade cohorts to an upper campus in August 2025 (relieving Harvey and providing capacity at Buffalo Creek Middle School) and use staggered bell times, shuttle options, and targeted routing to manage transportation. Staff recommended keeping the Harvey name across both campuses (board discussion favored this approach but left final naming and campus-labeling options open).
Programming and innovation: the presentations highlighted programmatic choices officials see as differentiators. Executive principals and directors described —learning neighborhoods—, a house system, and adoption of Harkness pedagogy (student-led Socratic-style discussions) in upper elementary grades; Todd Richardson, the executive principal named to lead the East K—8, described an interior design concept inspired by local aquatic ecosystems and potential partnerships with nearby institutions (including a new aquarium and medical facilities near the North County campus).
Transportation and logistics: staff outlined several routing options for a two-campus model: (1) maintain existing Harvey routes and perform two drop-offs on the same route; (2) create separate routes if driver capacity permits; or (3) operate shuttle(s) between campuses that deliver older cohorts to the upper campus after primary drop-off. Staff said opening the campus at limited capacity protects room for expected growth and avoids immediate use of portable classrooms.
What to watch: staff will bring specific action items (procurement, staffing and a formal opening/reassignment plan) and recommended timeline items to the board in coming months; the district will post a dedicated web page with workshop materials and a recording to solicit community feedback.
Ending: the workshop produced no binding decisions on boundaries but established staff direction: proceed with phased openings, recruit voluntary reassignments with geographic preference for founding families, and return with more detailed items for board action.
