At a packed meeting in Hyde Grove Elementary’s cafeteria on Tuesday, Duval County School Board members presented a revised plan for Venetia Elementary that many parents and community members called a reasonable compromise.
Scaled‑back design meets neighborhood concerns
The new proposal calls for a Pre‑K‑5 school that will accommodate 840 students on the current Venetia site. The design incorporates Italian‑revival architectural details to blend with the surrounding neighborhood’s character. The school’s name and mascot are expected to remain unchanged.
Earlier this year the district had sought approval for a larger 1,200‑seat prototype building. After dozens of public comments expressing worries about traffic, the board voted not to approve that contract and instead moved to the smaller, more modest plan.
Consolidation and early‑learning expansion
District Chief Operating Officer Jim Culbert confirmed that the plan still includes consolidating Ortega Elementary into the new Venetia campus and adding five voluntary pre‑kindergarten (VPK) classes, which should boost enrollment. The Board has already approved Ortega’s closure and will consider the construction contract for the new Venetia building at an upcoming meeting.
In addition to classroom space, the proposal features outdoor play areas, athletic fields, courts, and even a dog park behind the property, aiming to provide a well‑rounded environment for students and families.
Traffic study and community response
Residents had previously voiced concerns that increasing enrollment from roughly 300 to 840 students could strain local streets. Culbert said the district completed a traffic study and submitted it to the City of Jacksonville for review. The study estimates a need for 173 vehicle spaces and 19 school‑bus bays; the design allows for up to 250 vehicle spaces and 23 bus bays. City spokesperson Phil Perry noted the city has not yet finished its review.
During the meeting, parents who supported the new building were met with boos from some crowd members worried about traffic impacts. Venetia parent Janelle Cox responded, “Everyone’s so concerned about the trees and not the children that go there. We are concerned about our children getting the best education they can — and this school is a fantastic school. I never have any concerns.”
Academic performance and demographics
Venetia Elementary earned an A grade in state academic rankings last year, following B grades in the two prior years. The student body is majority‑minority, with about one‑third classified as economically disadvantaged. Ortega’s student population is roughly half economically disadvantaged, and the school earned a C last year and B grades the two years before that.
Board member perspective
Board member Melody Bolduc, who represents a Mandarin district that includes several large elementary schools, acknowledged the inconvenience of increased traffic but emphasized the value of quality education. “We are going to sometimes be inconvenienced by raising children right. We’re going to be inconvenienced by traffic. We’re going to be inconvenienced with time,” Bolduc said. “Children can be an inconvenience. But they’re worth it.”
The revised Venetia plan reflects a balance between expanding educational capacity and addressing legitimate neighborhood concerns, illustrating how local stakeholders can work together to find practical solutions.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
