Parrish elementary school will welcome middle schoolers, district says it's solution to population boom
The Brief
An extension of Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School will soon welcome middle schoolers.
The new concept will allow students in Parrish to stay at the same school from K-8th grade.
Officials say the extension is needed as the area continues to grow.
PARRISH, Fla. - Officials with the Manatee County school district got to see the progress of the new Barbara A. Harvey 4th through 8th grade campus.
The backstory
It's a new concept that will allow students to remain at one school from VPK to 8th grade.
"Everything is lined up. The air conditioning is on. We are starting to do flooring. You can see aluminum canopies going up. It's really starting to look done," said Nathan Carr.
Nathan Carr is the Vice President and Project Executive with Willis Smith Construction. He's been working on the extension of Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School.
READ: Manatee County leaders vote to remove fluoride from drinking water
It'll soon welcome middle schoolers and will be needed as the area grows.
What they're saying
"They're coming fast. You can see all around us, houses being built. Those children are coming. They will be here soon," said Carr.
For the past few years, Dr. Hayley Rio the Principal of Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School has seen growth continue.
"It is a booming, fast-growing area. I think it kind of caught all of us by surprise," said Dr. Rio.
Just a mile and a half down the road, Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School opened six years ago.
By the numbers
The school first welcomed around 525 students; today more than 1,400 are enrolled.
"We needed to find more space. This middle school was being built, and the idea came about…what if we took our 4th graders, and we house them on this middle school campus. It started out as a temporary idea and a temporary fix and then came the idea of well that could actually be a really neat opportunity," said Dr. Rio.
READ: Sea turtle patrols begin on Anna Maria Island ahead of nesting season
When the new campus opens 4th, 5th and a small group of 6th graders will start.
Each year those numbers will increase and grades up to 8th grade will be added.
The school will open in August, just in time for the new school year, and they'll be able to accept just over 1,200 students.
They'll have the latest from an engineering space, innovation hub, a gym, agricultural program and medical academy.
All tools to follow students into high school.
"It's really turned a challenge into just a really neat opportunity to all of us who have been blessed to be involved," said Dr. Rio.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV
Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android
Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines
Download the SkyTower Radar app
Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
The Source
FOX 13's Kimberly Kuzion collected the information in this story.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Helicopter crashes at Florida airport, 4 hospitalized
The Brief A touring helicopter crashed at Destin Executive Airport on Thursday evening, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. Officials say four people were onboard the helicopter and went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation. DESTIN, Fla. - Four people are recovering from injuries after a helicopter crashed at an airport in the Florida Panhandle, according to officials. What we know The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday on the runway at Destin Executive Airport. Four people were onboard the touring helicopter, according to investigators. All four went to the hospital but are expected to survive. What we don't know The cause of the crash is under investigation. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source This story was written with information from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Over 300k bees found inside walls of historic Puyallup house
The Brief A Pierce County plumbing and remodel company discovered swarms of bees inside the walls of a historic 1930s home in Puyallup. Beekeeper Michael A. Pernorio removed at least 350,000 bees from the house over two visits. The entrance has been sealed to prevent further bee infestations, with some stragglers remaining. PUYALLUP, Wash. - You could call it an "un-bee-lieveable" discovery in Pierce County after massive swarms of bees were found inside the walls of a historic home built in the 1930s. "Most people didn't know there was a home here," Joe Bowers, owner of Bowers Plumbing and Remodel, said. "It's pretty crazy, you could hear in the room, you could hear them humming in the walls, you could feel the heat." The backstory His company was working on the Puyallup house when they found bees, after bees, after bees. They called Michael A. Pernorio, a beekeeper and contractor, to rehome the bees. "It was just loaded with comb and brood, which are young bees," Pernorio said. He estimates he pulled out at least 300,000 bees. "They've got plenty of room, these old houses they have no insulation in them usually, there's a lot of room, if they can find a place in, they're going to build," Pernorio said. The bees were in the walls and the ceiling, but that was back in July. Then, about a week and a half ago, the bees were back. Pernorio told FOX 13 he pulled out another 50,000 bees. On Thursday, we were there as he sealed off the entrance. "We've got all the bees pretty much out of there, there's some stragglers left behind," Pernorio said. Bowers told FOX 13, the previous owners were older and had lived at the house for about 60 years. "So I don't think they went upstairs for 10 years or more," Bowers said, believing they probably didn't hear the bees buzzing through the upstairs wall. "It was kind of interesting and scary at the same time." The Source Information in this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews. Seattle traffic to be impacted from upcoming protests Authorities shift tactics in search for WA triple murder suspect Travis Decker Manhunt for Travis Decker moves to WA's Kittitas County Anti-Trump 'NO KINGS' protests planned for Seattle this weekend Seattle police disperse 'ICE OUT' protesters after fire breaks out downtown Everything you need to know about Seattle Pride Parade 2025 Things to do for Father's Day in Seattle To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Polk County takes data-driven approach to save more pedestrian, cyclist lives
The Brief According to the FDOT, Polk County ranks 21 out of the state's top 25 deadliest counties for pedestrians. The Best Foot Forward program focuses on educating drivers to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. FDOT is funding the program that has a goal of spreading into the Tampa and Jacksonville markets. BARTOW, Fla. - Polk County is trying to become a safer place for pedestrians and bicyclists. By the numbers According to the Florida Department of Transportation, Polk County ranks 21 out of the state's top 25 deadliest counties for pedestrians. 26 pedestrians and cyclists were killed last year. What we know Bike Walk Central Florida, based in Orlando, is launching its safety program in Polk County — the first county in the Tampa Bay area market to participate. The Best Foot Forward program focuses on educating drivers to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks identified by local and county officials. The program works with law enforcement to issue warnings or citations and holds educational sign-waving events. READ:'We're not California': Florida officials pledge crackdown on doxing threats "What's really exciting about it is the stats or what they refer to as the 'driver yield rate' at pedestrian crossings. It improves significantly after they've given some of the intersections attention," said Ryan Kordek, the Executive Director of Polk TPO. 'When we launched in Orlando and Orange County in 2012, the crosswalks we were taking data at, the average driver yield rate was only 17% of drivers yielding to pedestrians," said Vince Dyer, Manager of the Best Foot Forward Program. "We've been steadily recording improvement since then. Today it's near 50% of drivers yielding to pedestrians in the same metro area." Dyer says the number of deaths and serious injuries have also gone down. The program has already begun studying crosswalks near schools and parks in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Bartow. Each crosswalk is evaluated for at least a year. "We recommend low-cost solutions, things like better striping and signage, the tubular markers, the delineators, things like that," said Dyer. "We can track those and show they have a positive effect." What's next FDOT is funding the program that has a goal of spreading into the Tampa and Jacksonville markets. The Source This story was written with information gathered by FOX 13's Carla Bayron. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
