The Monroe County School Board met on Tuesday, June 24, 2015. Pat Lefere Executive Director of Operations and Planning introduced Michael Skrodinsky the new Facilities Planner for the Monroe County School District. At the meeting, the School Board discussed moving forward on the Plantation Key School construction project. This effort will replace the existing school in Tavernier with a new state of the art K-8 facility on the existing site.

One of the first steps for the District is to proceed with the process of advertising for and selecting an architect. This effort is currently underway and is projected to be completed by mid-August.

Upon completion, the new school in the Upper Keys will provide a modern learning environment for students. Facilities Planner Michael Skrodinsky said, “Our goal is to create the best space possible to promote student learning and the district’s strategic plan, educational commitments and goals.”

The new school will initially be planned for enrollment of 594 students from pre-kindergarten through grade eight. The project will be primarily funded from the ½ cent sales tax. The current school was built in 1976 and is not designed to meet today’s wind load requirements. The new Plantation Key School will replace an aging building with an up-to-date, 21st century learning facility. Students will soon have a beautiful new space which will undoubtedly enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom.

The pre-construction efforts will require a community engagement process throughout design and construction. The project is planned for approximately three years with the hopes of completion in time to commence the 2018-2019 school year. In regard to this long awaited project, Superintendent Mark Porter said, “we are excited to begin the process of rebuilding PKS. The community is incredibly supportive of the school and we look forward to working with them to build a fantastic learning environment for their children.”