School boundaries will shift to accommodate new school in Lake County
Accommodating growth while maintaining educational standards has proven to be an ongoing challenge for officials in Lake County.
"The county has grown by around 20 percent over the past decade, with most of that growth occurring on the south end of the county," said a video produced by Lake County Schools, which played at an open house at East Ridge Middle School's cafeteria Monday night.
Information and maps detailed how attendance boundaries will change for the 2025-26 school year when a new K-8 school opens.
"The county is expected to grow more than 43% in the next 25 years," according to the LCS video. "South Lake is likely to see the bulk of that growth. Elementary schools in this area of south Lake are operating at 91% to 142% of their permanent capacity and middle schools are as high as 116% of permanent capacity."
The May 20 open house at East Ridge was the first of two on the changing boundaries; the second convenes at 5:30 p.m. on May 28 at Grassy Lake Elementary in Minneola.
On June 17, the school board will convene to discuss the written comments from parents during the two events.
How did LCS come up with its proposed boundary plan?
Lake County Schools (LSC) staffers evaluated 11 options to be discussed with the school board at an April 15 workshop. On April 22, the superintendent recommend her preferred option, Option 9, for the School Board's consideration.
The consensus of the school board is that Option 9 "indicates more overall balance of school capacities and provides relief to Grassy Lake Elementary and Windy Hill Middle School," according to the school district's website.
Changes are noted by the red text on the school board maps. The new K through 8 school will primarily affect Astatula Elementary, Grassy Lake Elementary and East Ridge Middle School students in Minneola and the surrounding areas. The students will be rezoned to attend the new school.
Minneola Mayor Pat Kelley chatted with parents and LCS staffers at the May 20 open house at East Ridge.
"The new K-8 school has been part of a long-term vision in the city," he said. "It goes back to my predecessor, Dave Yeager, who actually helped secure the renewal agreement."
Concerned parents voice their opinions
"K-8 is just not my personal choice in a new school," said Jennifer Royston. "I don't think the new school relieves enough crowding, nor does it provide the breadth of classes that a traditional middle school does."
Royston has twin fourth-grade boys who attend the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program at Cypress Ridge Elementary, but they would have to attend the new K-8 school when they make it to 6th grade. Lake County doesn't have a magnet middle school they could attend.
As academically motivated students, they will have fewer options available than they would at a traditional middle school.
Parents commenting on the LSC Facebook page have asked why recent attention has focused on southern Lake County.
Is the northern portion of the school system being considered for similar expansion related to projected growth?
"Because there are more existing schools in the north end of the county, most of which already have larger dining and support spaces, we are adding new capacity incrementally to existing schools rather than building brand new schools, with the exception of the Fruitland Park Elementary School replacement," explained LCS Executive Director of Facilities & Planning Kelly Randall, adding that this will change as new areas of the county, such as the region around Yalaha, start to develop.
What's planned for northern Lake County students?
"For now, incremental additions are providing for the capacity we need in the north county," Randall said.
What about long-range plans for growth and new construction in the Leesburg, Eustis and Umatilla areas?
Lake County Schools' current five-year capital plan has several projects that will add renovated, replacement or new facilities in the north end of the county. They include:
A classroom addition at Villages Elementary of Lady Lake to be constructed over the next year.
A project at Beverly Shores Elementary in the '25-'26 school year that will replace older buildings from the 1960s and portables and add some new capacity.
A project at Eustis Elementary School, funded in the next few years. The district is exploring the options for rebuilding and adding capacity to serve additional students there.
Replacing the Eustis High School 9th Grade Center with an addition on the main campus.
A project to convert Leesburg Elementary and Oak Park Middle, which are on adjacent properties, into a single school serving grades K-8.
It all boils down to funding
According to educationdata.org, Florida ranks 44th in the country for spending on public education per pupil, and 43rd in funding. Florida K-12 schools spend $11,770 per student annually, or a total of $33.4 billion. This number represents 3.3% of the state's total resources, and is below the national average of around $18,000 per student.
Florida K-12 schools spend the least in terms of a percentage of local taxpayer income.
"One of the big advantages of a K-8 is that you can relieve elementary and middle overcrowding with only having to build one school," said Marc Dodd, who represents District 3 on the Lake County School Board.
"You know, in an ideal world, if we were funded the way education was valued by people, then you'd be able to build schools all over the place and not have to worry about drawbacks of this or that."
Public input is welcome at Lake County Schools meetings. Email concerns about the new boundaries to redistricting@lake.k12.fl.us and voice messages can be left at 352-253-6693.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Lake County Schools open house events explore new southern boundaries
