| New school aims to relieve overcrowding in West Volusia
Education Writer Last update: 05 January 2004 |
|
Old-time doctors made house calls, but modern-day school Principal
Don Travis prefers yard calls.
Driving around the Deltona neighborhood where a new school is going up
at 1500 Meadowlark Drive, Travis often stops to chat with people he spots
working in their yards.
They talk about children, neighborhood concerns over traffic the school
will generate and how the neighbors can get involved with the school
scheduled to open in August.
The $10.3 million elementary school is a relief valve for overcrowding
at Timbercrest, Deltona Lakes, Forest Lake and Discovery elementary
schools.
It's one of nine new schools, six replacements for outdated facilities
and improvements at 30 others being financed with a 0.5 percentsales tax
Volusia voters approved two years ago.
Travis, who had been in charge of Longstreet Elementary in Daytona
Beach the last three years, was tapped in early November to head up the
school on Meadowlark Drive.
Although Travis is a veteran principal, this is the first time he'll be
opening a new school and the first time he's worked in the Deltona area.
Travis has been spending time in recent weeks getting to know the
community.
The yard calls are part of that process. "I ask them: 'What's your
image of a school in the neighborhood?' " Travis said.
So far, he's hearing more about neighbors' traffic concerns than
specific ideas on school programs or activities, but he expects the
residents' feedback to guide the relationship between the school and its
surrounding community.
Most of the approximately 760 children who will attend the
still-to-be-named school will live close enough to walk or ride their
bikes to classes, Travis said, a feature parents have already told him
they like.
On his yard calls, Travis also chats with residents about ideas for the
school's name and mascot. Community residents, children who will attend
the new school and their parents will be invited to submit name and mascot
suggestions beginning this month.
The Volusia County School Board will make the final decision. Travis
hopes to have that done in February.
Meanwhile, Travis is planning for the school on several fronts. He's
working with city and county officials on issues ranging from access roads
to traffic lights, visiting the construction site frequently, ordering
furniture and equipment. He'll start hiring teachers this month with the
appointment of a "leadership cadre."
A principal for 15 of the 31 years he's worked for Volusia schools,
Travis said the experience of planning a new school is different from
every other assignment.
"I'm getting the opportunity to shape a school," said Travis. "It's
really exciting."
As part of his planning, Travis has consulted with other Volusia
principals who opened new schools in recent years and is keeping a daily
log of activities to share with those who will follow on his heels.
That could be an important resource over the next several years as
Volusia moves ahead with a $515 million building program financed largely
by the sales tax approved in 2001. The tax so far has brought in $54.1
million, $13.4 million more than projected.
Besides the Deltona elementary school, construction is under way on a
Mainland High School replacement and a new middle school in Daytona Beach.
Construction of a new elementary school in Orange City is temporarily
on hold while a bid protest is resolved. Ground will be broken this month
for a New Smyrna Beach High School replacement and by mid-year on a Taylor
Middle-High School replacement.
School Facilities Director Pat Drago said response to additions that
have already been completed at some schools is encouraging. "The teachers
feel energized; the students feel learning is important. It's a place you
want to be," Drago said. "What it means is community pride."
The construction program includes nine new schools, six replacements
for outdated schools and renovations/additions at 30 other schools.
Highlights include:
· The half-cent sales tax that took effect Jan. 1, 2002, has raised
$54.1 million so far, $13.1 million more than projected.
· The new elementary school that's scheduled to open in August at 1500
Meadowlark Drive in Deltona is about half finished. Construction is
scheduled for completion in May.
· Construction is well under way on two Daytona Beach schools -- a
Mainland High replacement and a new middle school.
· Construction is slated to start this month on a New Smyrna Beach High
replacement, with crews to start work on the new Taylor Middle-High School
in Pierson in June.
· Ground will be broken on a new elementary school in Orange City as
soon as a pending bid protest is
resolved. |
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