Category: Facilities

Chaffee Trail Middle School - Half-Penny Sales Tax Master Facility Plan

Inflation, new laws among factors contributing to a new Master Facility Plan price tag

Dec. 4, 2023 — Significant changes in the economic, financial, and legislative landscape have resulted in a funding gap for the district’s Master Facility Plan (MFP), the renovation and rebuilding program funded by revenue from the voter-approved, half-penny sales tax. In an update presented at a recent school board workshop, district staff advised board members […]

Read More
Rennovations at Westside Middle School - Half-Penny Sales Tax

More than just new schools: Other ways the half-penny tax is benefitting schools

Oct. 24, 2023 – When it comes to how the district is using revenue from the voter-approved half-penny sales tax, much attention is going to the construction of new schools like Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary. Yet building new campuses represents just one part of a broad Master Facility Plan that includes expanding, renovating, repairing, and […]

Read More
Image of students and district leaders breaking ground during the ceremony

Chaffee Trail school community celebrates groundbreaking of new middle school

April 13, 2023 – Right now, the plot of land adjacent to Chaffee Trail Elementary School is just dirt and grass. But by August 2024, it will be a 125,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art middle school serving sixth-eighth grade students on Jacksonville’s fast-growing westside. Funded by the half-penny sales tax, the new Chaffee Trail Middle School is the […]

Read More
Aerial view of the Rutledge H. Pearson construction site

Video – Celebrating new milestones in the construction of Rutledge Pearson Elementary

Jan. 20, 2023 – The construction of the new Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School recently reached a new milestone. The building’s structure is in place and a roof now lies on top of the new school facility.  It’s a point of progress in the construction industry that usually calls for celebration, and that’s exactly what […]

Read More
Aerial view of Rutledge Pearson new building construction site

New schools emerging throughout Jacksonville thanks to half penny

Nov. 14, 2022 – With active construction underway on one full school replacement and design reveals held for three other full school replacements and one brand new school, the district is passing many milestones in its 15-year master facilities plan. These projects are funded by the half-penny sales tax approved by voters in 2020. Besides […]

Read More

Riverside High School celebrates installation of new artificial turf field

October 18, 2022 – Alumni, staff, students, and district leadership recently celebrated the unveiling of Riverside High School’s new artificial turf field.  The Generals are the first Duval County Public School to have their field upgraded to an AstroTurf playing surface. The installation project has been in the works for several years. The new field […]

Read More
Students, staff, and dignitaries at the Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School groundbreaking event

Half-penny funded plan stays on schedule as district enters year two

July 12, 2022 – Historic facility improvements, security projects and school rebuilds are in development as planned as Duval County Public Schools’ half-penny funded master facility plan begins to work through year two.   Revenue continues to exceed projections Funds collected through the voter-approved, half-penny sales tax exceed the original project budgets. However, market inflation […]

Read More
Pearson family with students from MLK Elementary and dignitaries

Community celebrates historic groundbreaking of the new Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School

May 23, 2022 – Dozens of families, community members, dignitaries, and school and district staff celebrated a historic moment on Friday at the formal groundbreaking ceremony of the new Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School, which will be the first major rebuild under the district’s master facilities plan. The new elementary school is expected to open […]

Read More