In a few years, Central School middle and high school students will have a new classroom building.
The Santa Rosa School Board approved $34.6 million to build a new classroom building and an athletic fieldhouse at the school campus in Allentown.
Originally built in the 1920s, the current Central School has about 750 students in PreK through 12th grades. The new classroom building and fieldhouse are Phase 1 of a multi-phase project that will include more upgrades and renovations to the school.
The new 57,000-square foot classroom building will be a two-story brick structure with about 20 classrooms, administrative offices, a media center for all grades, a band and chorus suite, lobby and courtyard. The structure is scheduled to be finished by January 2029 and will face Allentown Road.
Construction on the 10,000-square-foot fieldhouse is scheduled to begin in 2027 and be completed by Spring 2028. The red brick structure will include separate locker rooms for student-athletes and coaches, a weight room, training space, a laundry area and storage.
The fieldhouse will face the school’s football field but will be used by all student-athletes. The facility will also include public restrooms for spectators.
Currently, some students attend classes in 11 portables on the campus, which is located at the corner of Allentown Road and Central School Road. The portables have already been relocated to the east side of campus, so that the construction site is in place at the school.
DAG Architects’ senior associate Sandra Taunton and architect Maia Meredith presented Phase 1 plans to the school board for approval on Tuesday. A contractor has not been selected. Bids will be let on Phase 1 of the project later.
“With removing those portables, we’ll be able to improve the visibility through the campus and improve campus security, and also provide a new, clear main entrance,” Taunton said about Phase 1 of the project. “This school’s main entrance is really just straight on to a corridor. We wanted to give the school a new main entrance that makes it clear to visitors where to go, but also to have a secure lobby.”
Funding for Central School building projects
The new facilities will not cost the school district any money or require financing. Joey Harrell, Santa Rosa Schools assistant superintendent for administrative services, said Phase 1 will be constructed using half-cent sales tax revenue.
The half-cent sales tax pays for the construction of new schools, as well as renovations and additions to existing schools. Funds can also be used for land acquisition/improvements and upgrading and equipping schools with technology.
Harrell said he set money aside — whenever possible for future projects — from the district’s capital outlay budget.
“We built that fund so we wouldn’t have to go into debt. That’s been about a four-year process,” Harrell added.
Santa Rosa Schools Supt. Karen Barber said families in the Allentown/Central community are thrilled about the upcoming and older upgrades to Central School.
“…A new football field. This school also, years ago, got a new cafeteria, the gymnasium, upgrades to that floor, but this new phase is really just incredible, and we’re able to pay cash,” Barber said.
The reworked campus will also allow the school to have more parking spots. The school district must construct a new underground sewer/wastewater treatment system and relocate a fueling station on the campus.
“The bottom line is, this is going to be a complete upgrade, renovation, remodel, redo of Central School,” Harrell said.
Board member Elizabeth Hewey asked about the subsequent phases following the completion of Phase 1.
Harrell said a Phase 2 is planned for the future, but no specific details have been finalized as the district will assess needs and priorities when that phase approaches.
“That can’t be determined at this point and time. Keep in mind, when we went out for architectural selection, we listed this selection as multiple phases,” he explained. “But …DAG (Architects) has been approved to do those subsequent phases under this process — Phase 2 to Phase 3 — so we keep continuity between architectural firms. That was done in foresight about a year ago.”
“Not too long ago, there were rumors that Central School was going to be closed,” said board member Linda Sanborn. “We listened to the public, and I don’t think that was ever a possibility,” she said.
“And now we’re doing this giant renovation. It’s wonderful, but I want to say we’ve done other great things for Central School with advanced placement courses and satellite (broadcast classrooms), so I’m just so proud that we’re able to improve the education and educational facilities for the Central community.”
Mary Lett is the Youth Development Reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. She can be reached at mmabins@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Central School getting a fieldhouse, new school for 7-12th graders
Reporting by Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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By Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
