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No New Schools Planned

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

TAMPA - The two schools under construction in Lutz and Citrus Park will be the last new additions for northwestern Hillsborough for at least a decade.

Smith Middle will open next month and Steinbrenner High in August 2009. The Hillsborough County School District has no plans for more schools in the area until 2018 at the earliest.

After that point, the district expects growth will have heated up again, and the district will need 21 elementary schools and one middle school for the next 10 years, but no sites have been selected or concrete plans made.

The lull reflects stalling growth countywide after the housing boom.

Since 2002, six schools have opened locally, not including Smith and Steinbrenner. Explosive growth filled up some schools in their first year, such as Bryant Elementary, which opened in 2002. Bryant became so crowded that the district had to push Deer Park Elementary a year ahead of schedule, assigning those students to an all-portable school while its building was under construction.

But now the district is finishing up projects under way and has no schools scheduled from the 2010-11 school year until 2012-13. For the following four years, the district is considering two to five elementary schools, as many as five middle schools and no high schools. None are in north Tampa.

"We have an uncharacteristic lack of new schools," said Chief Facilities Officer Cathy Valdes. "For three years, we won't be opening anything."
School board members reviewed budgets on July 22 for construction, remodeling, maintenance and repair projects needed for the next five years. Northwest Elementary is slated for a major remodeling costing more than $6.5 million in 2011. Gaither also needs more than $8 million of work on its heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, Valdes said.

Board member Susan Valdes asked if the district was addressing traffic problems near one of its new schools. She said she had heard from residents in Citrus Park near Smith who were worried about traffic backing up and parents trying to turn on and off Gunn Highway.

Cathy Valdes said the district was going to create a turn lane from Citrus Pointe Drive, where the school is located, to Gunn. She said officials would meet with residents this week to share information.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor @tampatrib.com.

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