Local

Construction begins on new Nassau County elementary school after population boom

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — Construction began Monday on a new Nassau County elementary school that will help the district accommodate growth in the community.

Wildlight Elementary School is expected to open its doors to up to 800 children in grades kindergarten to fifth grade in fall 2017.

Construction on the new school comes after significant growth in the district during the past few years.

“The growth we are experiencing at this county, it’s nothing short of explosive,” said Laura Dibella, executive director for Nassau County Economic Development Board.

Dibella said the district is seeing more children enrolling in their schools because of a population boom.

“It’s not every day that you have a new city being created before your eyes,” Dibella said.

From 2009 to 2010, there were 3,939 housing permits granted. From 2013 to 2014, that number almost doubled and 6,703 permits were granted.

Population in the county grew from 44,000 in 1990 to approximately 76,000 in 2015.

The school district has received an A rating for 12 of the last 13 years.

Dibella said the school is part of the Wildlight 260 Acre Project. It will include new homes, businesses and commercial space.

The Wildlight Community is one mile north of A1A and Burgess Boulevard.

The school will cost approximately $23 million dollars to build and will be a school focused on science technology engineering and mathematics.

Dibella said STEM schools will prepare students to be more competitive in the future job market.