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Residents, Save Our Schools press council to preserve Gulf High School; council debates acquisition route
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the city to protect the historic Gulf High School ("Schwetman") for education, recreation and cultural uses; council debated whether to acquire the property via CRA purchase or interlocal agreement with the school board and discussed budget implications and restrictions on future uses.
Members of the public and the "Save Our Schools" group used the March 18 meeting to renew calls for the city to preserve the historic Gulf High School property, known locally as "Schwetman," and to limit future residential or commercial conversion.
Marybeth Isaacson opened public comment by urging the council to keep the property "a facility for the people of New Port Richey and Pasco County" and described the site as appropriate for a cultural center, museum and lifelong-learning activities. Subsequent speakers representing SOS and longtime residents warned against contract language that would permit resale or residential use and urged protections such as a reversion clause to the school board if the city could not maintain the public purpose.
Council members then debated acquisition strategy. Some members argued the city should secure ownership now through the CRA and use $1.7 million (mentioned by staff and in council discussion) to assemble the nine-acre riverfront parcel and attract private investment; others favored an interlocal agreement with the school board to preserve programming rights while risking slower implementation and potentially reduced city control. Finance and budget questions surfaced: council members disputed whether funds for the project were budgeted and how much was already allocated in the CRA, with staff and council members offering different figures and asking for clarification.
Council discussion emphasized shared objectives—keeping the property for public use and restoring the historic building—but revealed different preferences on control, timing and legal structure. Several members urged further work with staff and the school board to finalize terms that protect the public interest while preserving flexibility for programming.
What’s next: Council said staff will continue negotiations with the school board and that the issue will return to a future agenda once unresolved items—particularly financial terms and any profit-sharing language—are clarified.
