If you grew up on the north side of DeLand and went to public elementary school, there is a good chance you went to George Marks Elementary School. The school on Amelia Ave. near Stetson University since it was built 63 years ago has been an icon for many. However, it is about to get a complete makeover.
The Volusia County School Board has approved a plan for the reconstruction of the campus, after discussing the constraints of the property for several months. The $19.5 million reconstruction plan involves demolishing the majority of the school in the summer of 2019, moving students and staff to portables in a “portable village” for a year and opening the brand-new campus in August 2020.
Thewas to always keep the school in operation during construction, and the district spent six months trying to develop a plan for the school to be built next to existing facilities. However, that would mean the new building would be built on the east edge of the campus, along Garfield Avenue. The School Board realized this was not feasible. Instead, the district opted to temporarily move students and faculty/staff and build the structure in the approximate location where school currently is.
The new building will contain most classrooms in a central two-story building. Key areas such as the cafeteria, auditorium, school office, and the media center will be in the same building. Additionally, younger students will be on the first floor and older students on the second floor. There are even plans for the school to incorporate some of its traditional features such as the iconic red bricks.
There are a few challenges still to overcome such as the topography of the site. It isn’t completely flat, which makes it difficult to build. But, if things go according to plan, GME students will be in a brand-new facility in August of 2020.
Thewas to always keep the school in operation during construction, and the district spent six months trying to develop a plan for the school to be built next to existing facilities. However, that would mean the new building would be built on the east edge of the campus, along Garfield Avenue. The School Board realized this was not feasible. Instead, the district opted to temporarily move students and faculty/staff and build the structure in the approximate location where school currently is.
The new building will contain most classrooms in a central two-story building. Key areas such as the cafeteria, auditorium, school office, and the media center will be in the same building. Additionally, younger students will be on the first floor and older students on the second floor. There are even plans for the school to incorporate some of its traditional features such as the iconic red bricks.
There are a few challenges still to overcome such as the topography of the site. It isn’t completely flat, which makes it difficult to build. But, if things go according to plan, GME students will be in a brand-new facility in August of 2020.