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Residents and teachers press Palm Beach board for review of Project Tango data center near Saddle View Elementary
Summary
Residents, teachers and the Classroom Teachers Association urged the Palm Beach County School Board to seek independent reviews and records about Project Tango, a proposed hyperscale data center sited within roughly 1,200–2,000 feet of Saddle View Elementary; the board asked the superintendent to draft a letter requesting more information and records from the county.
Community members and teacher representatives at the June 3 Palm Beach County School Board meeting urged the district to press county officials for independent study and information about Project Tango, a proposed hyperscale data center near Saddle View Elementary.
Residents and community groups described concerns about noise, vibration, heavy truck traffic, water and power demands, and the use of large lithium-ion battery systems. Sharon Merchant, representing the Western Palm Beach County Community Alliance, said the project’s end user is not publicly known and that she was “told that there will be over 600 fans on that property and you can imagine the amount of noise and vibration that they might generate.”
The Classroom Teachers Association presented a draft resolution opposing development of industrial-scale data centers at or near schools and urged a halt to county approvals until independent reviews addressing noise, environmental impacts, emergency response, and infrastructure strain are completed.
Board response: Chair Bril said the board is not categorically opposed to data centers but raised concern over proximity to schools and the potential impact on students, including those with sensory needs. Multiple board members asked the superintendent and staff to gather more information. Chair Bril said she would work with Superintendent Michael Burke on a letter to the Palm Beach County Commission asking for evaluations and documentation; several members recommended invoking Florida’s public-record statute (F.S. 119) to request any county studies or reports.
Why it matters: Speakers argued the district must protect students, particularly those with special needs who may be sensitive to continuous noise or vibration. The site’s proximity to Saddle View Elementary—constructed recently, the board noted—heightened local concern. Community members asked the board to request a delay in county consideration or independent third-party review before approvals proceed.
What the board did: The board did not take a formal vote to oppose the project. Board members directed staff to help draft a letter that (a) expresses concern about school proximity, (b) requests any studies or environmental/traffic/noise reports from the county under public-record law, and (c) asks for independent evaluation where county materials are absent.
Attribution: Direct quotes and summarized claims are from public speakers Sharon Merchant, Sue Loyel and Natalie Frasier and from Chair Bril and Superintendent Michael Burke as recorded in the June 3 meeting transcript.
