JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board has officially given officials the green light to move ahead with contract negotiations surrounding the relocation of district headquarters.
At its meeting on Tuesday night, the school board voted 6-1 to allow DCPS Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier to move forward with negotiations.
According to News4JAX partner Jacksonville Today, a local nonprofit has a $20 million offer on the table to purchase the current riverfront property that houses the Duval County Public Schools headquarters.
The purchasing group, Fleet Landing, plans to build a retirement community after tearing down the Southbank building, Jax Today reported. It would become the nonprofit’s third community in the Jacksonville area.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DCPS board to vote on Southbank headquarters sale, buying Baymeadows building to become new home
The current plan includes purchasing property in the Baymeadows area at 8928 Prominence Parkway for $14 million from Dream Finders Homes Providence LLC.
DCPS has been considering moving its headquarters for 20 years, and an effort in 2021 generated 16 bids, but ultimately, the property wasn’t sold.
Trinity Commercial Group handled the open market, competitive bid process, and told News4JAX that the offer from Fleet Landing was selected out of 10 groups that submitted offers. The bid process began last September.
The property on Prominence Parkway where the DCPS headquarters could potentially relocate is currently the location for the office of Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn-Dixie & Harveys.
According to DCPS, the current Southbank building, which was built in 1981, costs $512,624 a year to maintain. The new site, which was renovated in 2015, would have lower expenses, which would help as the district works to address a $1.4 billion capital budget shortfall.
Board members are scheduled to vote on the headquarters sale during their regular meeting on Oct. 7. The Duval County School Board must approve all major real estate decisions.
Duval County Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier told board members during a workshop that any extra money made in the sale of the DCPS headquarters would be put toward repairs and renovations for school buildings.
“The sale would potentially close in August of 2026,” Bernier said.
He went on to explain that of the $20 million, $12.5 million would come at closing, and the additional $7.5 million would come 36 months after closing.
He also said this would be the best deal to meet the districts’ needs.
“The school board has asked me to make a determination about getting off the river. They asked me over a year ago,” Bernier said. “We’ve come with what we believe is a good deal for them (the school board) to consider.”
According to DCPS, the district will continue parent-facing services at the centrally located Parent Resource Center, which is at the Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership (4019 Boulevard Center Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32207).
School board meetings would also be held at this location, but administrative functions would move to the Baymeadows location.
For answers to frequently asked questions about the possible relocation of the district headquarters, click here.