Jay Elementary School is currently undergoing renovations that include the addition of six new classrooms and the demolition of an old building that hold many fond memories for many students to make way for new classrooms.
The Santa Rosa County School Board of Education recently approved a survey of Jay Elementary School which determined that several buildings needed to be demolished due to age.
Several of the buildings were constructed as early as 1926, according to the survey, and were recommended for demolition, renovation or remodel.
“The facility we just removed was built in the 1940s and we had had numerous issues with the building due to age,” said Santa Rosa County Assistant School Superintendent Joey Harrell. “We have to look at whether a building is more cost effective to renovate, remodel as is, or tear it down. The evaluation of the study determined was more cost effective to remove it.”
The project began in 2018 and will continue through 2020, with the addition of a new cafeteria and lunchroom. The total projected cost is estimated at $10,885,566.
Harrell said in the current phase, six new classrooms are being built in front of the school and the whole front drive intersection is being reworked to increase parking spaces and make them more functional with that new classroom addition that is going in.
“We just can't keep building new classrooms and keep old classrooms where they are,” said Harrell. “We hope to put a new lunchroom in place in the future,” said
Harrell said the buildings at Jay Elementary School are aged and have served the Santa Rosa County school district very well, but agrees that all students across the county deserve access to safe, efficient classrooms.
“We have to ask, are the classrooms being made available to the students throughout Santa Rosa County the same classrooms that are being made available to our rural sections?” said Harrell. “This gives us an opportunity to match the classroom spaces that we are building in Pace, Gulf Breeze, Navarre or Milton, even in Chumuckla. The Jay students need those types of classes, too. We are excited and the students and parents in the Jay community are excited as well.”
Harrell said the project is paid for by two different types of funding.
“We have 1.4 capital outlay millage and we also have half cent sales tax,” said Harrell. “The six classrooms going in now are being paid for by half cent sales tax.”
He said more than $2 million of local option sales tax dollars are being used in Jay elementary school. “We are very fortunate to have that half cent sales tax and to be able to utilize it in that way,” he said.
He said although the rains have pushed the projected finish date back, they are hoping that some time mid-fall to early December, the classrooms should be ready.
“As funds become available and as we are able to allocate more funds to those projects, that's what will expedite those next steps in the project,” he said. “Right now, we are exited about those students being able to get in those new classrooms. It will remain as is for right now, but we actually did get a great portion of the parking lot completed, as well as redirected the traffic last year, but more modifications are in the future, once the building is in use. The modifications will be complete with the opening of those classrooms.”
Included in Capital Outlay funds requested for the 2019-2020 school year are at Jay Elementary to renovate building 15 music/chorus for $300,000 and replace flooring for clinic and b11 classrooms for $30,000, and at Jay High School, to cover the walkway from 500 hall to the construction and AG rooms for $15,000.
