District offers Don Estridge plan

Students from Don Estridge High Tech Middle School in Boca Raton may not have to give up their track and soccer fields, according to a new plan proposed by the Palm Beach County School District.

After an uproar from Don Estridge parents, the district has found a new site south of the fields for a temporary campus for Verde Elementary School that would allow the middle school, at 1798 Spanish River Blvd., to maintain its athletic complex.

Details are still being worked out, according to the district, but the proposal could alleviate many parents’ concerns.

“This is huge progress, and I appreciate that they are trying to find a solution quickly,” said parent Susan Farinas, whose twins are in seventh grade at Don Estridge. “My son runs track year-round, so that was huge for him to lose his sport. I still have concerns about the traffic situation though.”

Another parent said her worry is security.

“Adding 1,000 additional students, plus teachers, staff and parents brings a substantial increase in not just vehicle traffic but foot traffic,” said Arlene Olvera, whose children are in seventh and eighth grades. “The tragedy at Stoneman Douglas, Sandy Hook and so many other schools, can happen anywhere, but having essentially two schools … on one congested campus I feel greatly increases our security vulnerabilities.”

More than 1,000 students from Verde are set to move to the Don Estridge campus next year as Verde is demolished and rebuilt.

The district plans a $31.7 million renovation of the Verde campus at 6590 Verde Trail. The school is scheduled to be rebuilt in one year, with students returning to their home campus in August 2020.

But about 800 students from Addison Mizner Elementary school would then replace them at Don Estridge. Addison Mizner students would return to their campus, which will be rebuilt as a K-8 school for $20 million, in August 2021.

Although they will be on the same site next year, Don Estridge and Verde will operate as separate campuses. The schools will have different cafeterias, parking lots and dropoff locations, according to the school district.

Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer said he met with school officials last week to brainstorm a new plan. Construction is set to begin in February.

The demolitions, renovations and expansions will be paid for with a penny sales tax approved by voters in 2016.