JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board pumped the brakes on plans to move forward with an expanded Venetia Elementary School. The board failed a vote 1 to 6, with Tony Ricardo being the only yes vote, for a construction agreement for the expanded school during its meeting Tuesday night.
Parents and community members urged the board to slow down its plan to expand the school into a 1,200-seat mega campus.
The district has already voted to consolidate Ortega Elementary into Venetia at the end of the 2027-2028 school year.
Community turns out to push back
Public comment was dominated by residents with concerns ranging from the school’s size and traffic impact to whether the district followed proper processes in moving the plan forward.
Board members also voiced support for slowing down, including board member Melody Bolduc and Board Chair Charlotte Joyce.
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier acknowledged the pushback directly during the meeting.
“I am hearing the Venetia community. We hear you — very, very clear — and I want you to know that,” Dr. Bernier said.
What the vote actually decided
Tuesday’s vote was not final approval of the 1,200-seat school. Instead, the construction agreement would have allowed the district team to move forward with developing plans to bring back to the community. For now the community is getting more time to understand the project.
Dr. Bernier previously said the projected size of the school is tied to viability. He also told News4JAX the district reviewed whether it had violated any state statutes or failed to follow the law in advancing the project — a concern raised directly during public comment.
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