Groundbreaking Ceremony
Thursday, February 21 | 10:00 am – 10:45 am
North Florida School of Special Education Campus
JAX’S FIRST URBAN EQUESTRIAN CENTER AND 32,000 EDUCATION COMPLEX ANCHOR CAMPUS EXPANSION OF NORTH FLORIDA SCHOOL OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
Mayor and First Lady Curry, dignitaries, and philanthropists joined North Florida School of Special Education leadership, students, families and staff in a unique, heartwarming groundbreaking ceremony for a long-awaited campus expansion that will feature Jacksonville’s only urban equestrian center and a 32,000-square-foot education complex in a revitalization of Arlington.
WHO ATTENDED:
- Mayor Lenny Curry
- First Lady Molly Curry
- Sally Hazelip, Head of School, North Florida School of Special Education
- Doug Milne, Ida Mae Stevens
- Linda and David Stein, Community Philanthropist
- NFSSE Board of Directors: John Macdonald, President, and Bert Brown, Vice President, Don Hinson
- NFSSE students
- Ed White, Chairman of the Board, Auld & White Constructors
- Ricardo Quinones, PQH Architects
- And other school and community leaders
BACKGROUND
Recently referred to as the “gold standard” by Governor DeSantis, North Florida School of Special Education is pressed for space in its 9,000-square-foot facility to meet the demand for state-of-the-art education for students with intellectual differences. Upon completing a $6 million Capital Campaign, the time has come to break ground for a campus expansion that was designed by PQH Architects. Auld & White Constructors is managing the project that will be anchored by:
The Christy and Lee Smith Lower School Campus and Therapeutic Center. The 32,000-square-foot facility will house the
- DuBow Family Physical Education Complex
- Linda and David Stein Academic Complex
- Ginny and Richard Dostie Basketball Court
- Fine Arts Center Gifted by Jill and Charlie Arnold
The Delores Barr Weaver Therapeutic Equestrian Center (that includes the Dorothy and Lee Thomas Equestrian Barn) is the first urban equestrian program in Jacksonville offering equine therapy to NFSSE students during the day and the community after school and on weekends.
The mission of the North Florida School of Special Education is to foster each student’s unique abilities revealing their highest potential within an engaged community. Learn more about the school and upcoming happenings at www.northfloridaschool.org.
Media Contact:
Sarah Troup, Marketing, Communications and Web Manager
North Florida School of Special Education
stroup@northfloridaschool.org | 904-724-8323. Ext 223 | 904-614-2420
www.northfloridaschool.org