ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County School Board is moving forward with a zoning plan for its newest school, set to open next year in the Rivertown community.
The board has opted for “Plan A,” which would move all Rivertown students to the new school. Parents have largely supported this approach, as it avoids splitting the community.
The alternative option, which would have divided students among schools, drew less support from residents. Before a final decision is made, the zoning plan will be advertised for 30 days.
Beverly Slough, District 1 school board member, said a new school can be a big draw for even more families.
“The School eventually will not be big enough to hold all those kids, but because of the fact that we open K-7, as opposed to K-8 allowing those eighth graders to finish up where they are for their middle school years,” Slough said. “We can manage to have enough room for all of the children in Rivertown, but we anticipate that we’re going to need relocatable classrooms within the first couple of years.”
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A vote is scheduled for next month.
Michael Leaning along with other parents are pleased that St. Johns County is moving forward with the zoning plan A that would keep Rivertown students together.
“I think just the school system in general is very great, great teachers, great staff. And then also parent involvement, I think is very important. And there’s strong parent involvement here,” Leaning said.
Matt Anderson, a Rivertown resident who moved from Oregon in 2021, expressed his support for the zoning plan, even though his own children won’t be attending the school.
“You don’t want one kid, you know, living across from another and going to completely different schools,” Anderson said. “So yeah, for the better, the kids keep them together.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the school’s opening, challenges loom. Rapid population growth in the area could necessitate portable classrooms immediately upon the school’s launch.
Additionally, district leaders are considering fast-tracking the construction of another elementary school in Rivertown to accommodate future needs.