Marion County School Board Plans for Growth with New Schools

Marion County Public Schools is set to build three new schools within the next four years to accommodate a significant enrollment increase, highlighted at the latest School Board rezoning meeting. Superintendent Diane Gullett introduced the meeting, emphasizing the county’s growth and the challenges of rezoning in the fifth-largest county by land size in Florida. The district has seen a 9% increase in enrollment over the past decade, with over 45,000 students currently enrolled.

The meeting featured discussions on the upcoming rezoning process, aimed at addressing localized overcrowding and preparing for future growth. The director of student assignment and records presented data on enrollment trends, residential development projections through 2045, and the current construction of approved developments. Maps illustrating student density and current school capacities were shown.

The senior executive director of operations provided details on the new schools, including location, capacity, cost, and features. The first new elementary school, referred to as Elementary School W, is slated to open in August 2025 in the Northwest Marion Oaks area, with an estimated cost of $47 million and capacity for 860 students. The second elementary school, known as Elementary X, will also open in August 2025, located in the Winding Oaks area, with similar capacity and cost. Both schools have provisions for future expansion if needed. Additionally, a new high school, referred to as High School CCC, is planned to open in August 2026 in the Southeast Marion Oaks area, with an initial capacity for 2,000 students and a cost of $136 million. This high school will also serve as a community shelter able to accommodate over 3,000 evacuees.

The rezoning process was outlined, highlighting the collection of stakeholder input as a critical current phase. The director of student assignment and records explained the different types of rezoning and the steps involved, from determining the need to school board approval. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their input, questions, and comments through the district rezoning website, accessible via QR code or web address.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Superintendent:
Diane Gullett
School Board Officials:
Allison Campbell, Lori Conrad, Eric Cummings, Nancy Thrower, Sarah James

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