During its September 17 meeting, the Martin County School Board approved the final payments for the newly constructed buildings at Palm City Elementary and Jensen Beach Elementary, marking a significant milestone in the District's efforts to provide safe, modern learning environments for students.
When Martin County voters approved the half-cent sales tax in November 2018, Palm City Elementary was nearly 60 years old, and Jensen Beach Elementary was nearly 50. Both schools needed replacement to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.
Thanks to the generosity and support of our taxpayers, Jensen Beach Elementary opened its doors to students in January 2023, followed by Palm City Elementary in March 2023. In addition to these new facilities, the sales tax has enabled the District to address approximately $98 million in much-needed repair and maintenance projects across other schools, as well as security hardening and safety enhancements at all schools in a much shorter timeline.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Martin County taxpayers for their investment in the future of education. The half-cent sales tax, which has been essential to the success of these projects, is set to sunset next year, completing its mission of helping build and maintain safe, high-quality schools for our community.