By Chris Wilson

A parcel of property in Jonesville that has been offered up for sale to the School Board of Alachua County could be the site for the county’s next elementary school, according to school board members. In addition, the board also is considering adding two additional elementary schools between Jonesville and I-75, north of Archer Rd. and south of NW 39th Ave., a new elementary school in Newberry and another new elementary school in High Springs within the next ten years.

According to District 3 school board member Wes Eubank, the Jonesville area school likely will be the first of the bunch to be constructed. “An elementary school in Jonesville would be the best option to free up space at Hidden Oak,” says Eubank.

Hidden Oak Elementary currently is operating above its capacity and it is zoned for students who live between I-75 and C.R. 241, from slightly north of NW 39th Ave. south to SW 8th Ave.  “Some kids, who are zoned for Talbot, actually are closer to Hidden Oak,” says Eubank. “One school in that area (of the county) could relieve overcrowding at up to five elementary schools.”

Among the overcrowded elementary schools cited by Eubank are Hidden Oak, Chiles, Glen Springs, which is slightly under its capacity, Norton, which currently is operating at its capacity, and Talbot.

“Hopefully, we’ll have two new elementary schools by the 2009-2010 school year,” says Eubank. “There is a possibility that (a Jonesville elementary school) could happen sooner. But, we have to find the location, buy the property and build.”

Eubank says a parcel of land in Jonesville has been offered for sale and the school board currently is seeking an appraisal in case it would like to make an offer on the land, which is located just south of the Jonesville Activity Center. According to Eubank, the property under consideration is a 50-plus acre parcel, located immediately behind the Hawley Realty/Steeplechase Storage facility on NW 143rd St., just south of Newberry Rd.

Buchholz Boundary Changes Being Considered To Relieve Overcrowding

At the high school level, school board members are considering redrawing the school attendance zones to help relieve an over-capacity Buchholz High.

“What we’ve found is that the best option is to start this process early,” says Eubank. “We’ve asked (district) staff to come back in December with some possibilities. We’ll then seek some input from the public. If your child is affected, it’s important.”

Currently, Buchholz has more than 300 students than its recommended capacity. Gainesville High is operating at 100 percent of its capacity, while Eastside is at 89 percent.

Among the various options the District staff is considering would be a shift of some Buchholz students to Gainesville and a move of some GHS students to Eastside.

Eubank says there will be at least two public hearings for parents of students to bring forward their ideas and concerns.

The last time the high schools were rezoned was in 2003. Eubank says at that time, some students were offered a choice of whether to remain at their school or to attend the school where they were rezoned. “We don’t want to bus kids all over the place,” he explains. “There would be some students who can be grandfathered in to their current schools.”

In addition, the school board has recommended a new Alachua County high school to be built within the next 20 years. The most likely location for the new high school would be in west Gainesville, due to the population growth.