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As of Jan. 1, 2023, Charlotte County Public Schools had received $632,780.14 in state school construction funds over the last six months. That money, along with sales tax revenue, has helped the district tackle multiple renovation projects. And that work is continuing in the new year, as Charlotte County Superintendent Dr. Robbie Mason explains. 

“The selected projects are based on need,” Mason said. 

Recent renovations for Charlotte County schools have included work on the Central Middle School roof, electrical upgrades across the district, adding window tinting for Central Middle windows and a classroom renovation at Randolph-Henry High. 

Moving forward, Mason said that Randolph-Henry may receive a bulk of the funding, because “it’s the building that needs the most work.” 

In addition to the classroom renovation, a cafeteria tile repair and hallway repair have been completed at the school, with more expected. More of the older windows at the school will be replaced this coming summer, while students are out. The timeline for each new project varies, depending on its scope. Basically, smaller projects that focus on one classroom or window repair will be finished first, while larger ones like a roof repair take more time. 

While current projects have focused on fixing old or damaged parts of buildings, Mason said he and his team will seek community advice about future upgrades. 

“We will work with the community and conduct outreach within the school district,” he added. 

Where did the Charlotte County funding come from? 

In addition to the state construction funds, where did the rest of the renovation money come from? The answer is sales tax. In 2020, Charlotte County residents approved a sales tax referendum. That 1% sales tax increase went into effect in July 2021, with revenue starting to be collected in September 2021. 

“Without the referendum, these projects would not be possible,” Mason said. “I’m appreciative to the community for their vote to create these needed improvements.” 

An estimated $80,000 has come in from the sales tax receipts to help renovate the district. Mason said he’s currently preparing a new round of proposals for building projects. Those will go before the school board for approval in the coming months.

Suzanne Bagia wrote this story for the Charlotte Gazette