What will Palmetto High School look like after major renovations? Here’s a preview
The Manatee County School District moved forward this week with construction plans to upgrade Palmetto High School.
The $39 million project at the school, 1200 17th St W., will be covered mainly through sales taxes, according to the school district.
“We have had several challenges creating a Palmetto High school campus that the students, parents, staff and community deserve,” said School Board Chairman the Rev. James Golden. “However we are on track to provide new construction, alleviate flooding and upgrade athletic facilities.”
Plans include replacing four classroom buildings and the cafeteria, and adding to the administration building.
Plans call for one two-story classroom building in the center of campus, surrounded by courtyards. Inside the building will be seven new science classrooms and labs, four business education classrooms, 17 general classes, and an art lab, the district said.
Changes to the administration building will include a new lobby, reception area, conference room and a new front door to the campus designed with features to improve safety and security for students and faculty.
As part of the construction plan, the student drop-off and pick-up areas will be relocated from 17th Street West to 14th Avenue West, where the current bus loop is located. A new bus loop will be built on the west end of campus, along with an access road and 50 additional parking spaces.
The school district is also considering improving the Palmetto High School baseball field, including a new building, a press box, restrooms, a concession stand, and an athletic restroom upgrade.
Construction on the major renovation project will be done in phases to allow campus activity to continue without disruption.
The Design and Construction project team working with the school, the school district, and the Palmetto community to complete the construction project is Schenkel Shultz Architects and The Gilbane Building Company.
Since 2002, the school district has built 14 new schools and fully remodeled eight thanks to the half-cent sales tax paid by Manatee county residents. Over the years, the district has received additional funding to help pay for construction needs, safety and technology enhancements.
Palmetto High School opened in 1957 and underwent campus-wide renovations in 1999, improving over 20 classroom buildings. In 2010, the school built a new auditorium, 20 classrooms and labs, and additional improvements to the field house, tennis courts and cafeteria. In 2015, the school’s kitchen serving lines were redone.
This story was originally published April 22, 2022 at 2:18 PM.
