By B.C. Manion
The Pasco County school district has identified more than $1 billion in construction and maintenance needs over the next 12 years with anticipated revenues about $200 million short of covering those costs.
Pasco County School Board members are not expected to take action on the list until this summer when they discuss their budget.
Unlike the years when the county’s growth forced the district to devote most of its construction dollars to building new schools, this plan calls primarily for upgrading and expanding existing sites.
The list includes redevelopment of school campuses, remodeling schools, adding technology for digital learning such as LED projectors and student computers, renovating cafeterias, traffic and safety improvements, improving facilities and making maintenance repairs, upgrading facilities for extracurricular activities, acquiring future school sites and three new elementary schools.
Here’s a quick look at the major projects on the 12-year priority list for Central and East Pasco schools.
Projects proposed between 2012 and 2014:
–West Zephyrhills Elementary, redevelopment, $8.2 million
–Pasco Elementary, remodel, $5.6 million
–R.B. Stewart Middle School, remodel, $4.5 million
–Land O’ Lakes High, redevelopment, $20.6 million
–Moore Mickens Education Center, redevelopment, $5 million
Projects proposed between 2014 and 2016:
–R.B. Cox Elementary, redevelopment, $6.5 million
–Pasco Elementary, remodel, $5.6 million
–San Antonio Elementary, remodel, $4 million
–Sanders Memorial Elementary, redevelopment, $18.2 million
Projects proposed between 2016 and 2018:
–Dr. John Long Middle School, classroom addition, $4 million
–Wiregrass Ranch High, classroom addition, $4 million
–Zephyrhills High, redevelopment, $20.6 million
Projects proposed between 2018 and 2020:
No major projects at Central or East Pasco schools
Projects proposed between 2020 and 2022:
–Quail Hollow Elementary, remodel, $8.5 million
–Woodland Elementary, remodel, $4.5 million
–Pine View Middle, remodel, $15.9 million
