Manatee school board member proposes cheaper way to build public schools

BRADENTON, Fla. — Manatee County Schools recently opened two new schools amid the district’s current school construction boom.

Two other schools are still under construction, and officials have proposed opening a new high school in Lakewood Ranch by 2027. 

The new high school has a price tag of $180 million, funded with 20-year bonds. Interest on the bonds will be around $80 million, bringing the true cost of the new high school to more than $250 million.

That’s too expensive according to school board member Richard Tatem.

Tatem says that the spending on new schools is not sustainable.

Tatem says he is working with state lawmakers to change legislation, allowing school districts to build traditional public schools for cheaper.

“I’m trying to get some legislative changes made,” he said. “I am working with our local representative, Rep. Conerly, and some other people across the state so that when we build what we call our traditional public schools, we can use part or all of the same building codes that charter schools use, and the same fire code they use, and that will give us some flexibility on the cost we have within our schools.”

Tatem’s proposal comes as Florida lawmakers are debating property tax cuts or a repeal of property taxes altogether.

State lawmakers expect to have a proposal about property taxes by the end of the year, with discussions and the possible approval of a plan by next year’s legislative session.