Marion County school officials will consider the installation of a primary water line for a new elementary school under construction in southwest Ocala during their regular meeting this week.
On Tuesday, the Marion County School Board will consider a measure to establish a guaranteed maximum price for offsite improvements at New Elementary School W, which is currently under construction at 14320 SW 70th Avenue Road in Ocala.
According to a school staff report, the improvements will constitute Phase III of the project and call for the installation of a primary water line at the site.
The work is “outside the existing construction contract for the construction” of the elementary school, according to the district.
The staff report indicates that water will be brought to the site from 66th Avenue Road, south of the property, through a total of 3,700 linear feet of water line.
The work is coordinated and permitted with the Utility Department of Marion County.
According to the district, the work is “critical to the opening of the school on time.” Currently, the work is estimated to be complete by July 31, 2025.
In addition to the primary water line, required turn lanes will also be constructed. That work will include ground clearing, earthwork, and grading for all paving improvements including curbing, separators, sidewalks, exits, and entryways.
The work will be managed by the A.D. Morgan Corporation, which was first approved as an annual contracted construction manager for Marion County Public Schools in 2021.
Marion County officials broke ground on the new elementary school in March.
In addition to the school in northwest Marion Oaks, the second elementary school (“New Elementary School X”) is currently under construction at 7200 SW 49th Avenue Road in Ocala. New Elementary School X will serve the Winding Oaks community.
Both schools are scheduled to admit students for the 2025-2026 academic school year.
Identical in layout, the new elementary schools will composed of two-story, concrete buildings that encompass 115,000 square feet. The buildings will feature 43 classrooms and will each serve up to 860 students, according to MCPS.
The facilities will feature minimal entry points, as well as offices for administrative staff on the first floor, and a media center on the second floor.
According to MCPS, the budget for New Elementary School X is $47 million. The district borrowed the funds to build the schools, as well as an additional high school in southwest Marion County.
The schools are two of several capital projects being managed by the district. Those projects include the construction of a new, $130 million high school in south Ocala, and the construction of a new middle school that will serve Silver Springs Shores.
The Marion County School Board regularly meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. The board will next meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, at 1614 E Fort King Street in Ocala.
