Crews in St. Johns County are working on another new school project.
This time it’s a 53,200 square-foot, K-8 public charter school campus in Treaty Oaks.
The building will fit close to 1,000 students plus a 64,000 square-foot, two-story early learning center for 300 kids right next to it on 1600 Brinkhoff Road, just off State Road 207.
Elaina Cowan, who moved to the area from California two years ago, said her daughter is starting kindergarten this year.
“I think already there’s an issue with space, so I think it’s going to be a good thing,” Cowan said.
Cowan said her biggest concern is finding teachers equipped for the job.
“I think the biggest concern is just making sure that they have the right teachers that really want to be there and are just focused on our kids,” Cowan added.
St. Johns County is growing super-fast.
In just two years from 2020- to 2022, St. Johns County grew more than 12% with over 300,000 people living in the area, and that number is still growing.
That factored into the St. Johns County Commission’s decision to approve the $3 million purchase in June.
But long-term resident Dave O’Malley, who has lived in the area for the last 13 years, said the continued growth and the new project is overwhelming.
“I don’t think they should be building anything by Treaty Oaks and Wildwood. It’s crazy. I just can’t take it anymore. I mean the growth has just been insane and the infrastructure isn’t supporting it,” O’Malley said.
Traffic is a big concern for the area, so the project includes a few conditions to help smooth it out:
- A Public Service Assistant will be put in place to deal with traffic issues if a traffic signal is not ready when the school opens
- The school will put $370,000 toward a new traffic signal at the intersection of State Road 207 and Brinkhoff Road
- Start times for elementary will be no later than 8 a.m. and middle school will be 8:15 a.m.
- There will also be an enhanced buffer behind the school
Renaissance Charter School, Inc. will operate the school but it’s not clear when it is expected to open.
Once the project is complete, it will be the fourth charter school to open in the county.