🌅 Fort Pierce K-8 Renderings

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☀️ Day: High of 83°F | Partly cloudy. Winds W at 10-15 mph. 5% chance of rain.
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The superintendent released renderings for the proposed Fort Pierce K-8 school that would replace Dan McCarty, Lawnwood Elementary, and St. Lucie Elementary.

What we're seeing: A modern campus with five separate buildings arranged around a central green space and athletic fields. The design mirrors the Tradition Lakes K-8 opening in August 2026. The new school would be built on district land next to the current Dan McCarty campus (where the track currently is). Link to renderings here.

The timeline if approved:

The $65 million funding plan: St. Lucie County has agreed to purchase Lawnwood Elementary, St. Lucie Elementary, and Dale Cassens properties and convert them to parks and green space.

What happens to Dan McCarty's building: It becomes an alternative education campus for Dale Cassens students and Pride Academy elementary students. Eventually, the county would purchase that property too.

Jobs: The superintendent says nobody will lose their job. The district has 8-10% annual attrition and already needs staff for Tradition Lakes K-8 opening in August 2026.

What's next: The superintendent will present updated options to the school board in the coming months. No vote yet. This process will take years. We'll keep covering it.

Catch up:

It happens every year. People wait until the last day, rush through the options, and end up with insurance that either costs too much or doesn't actually cover what they need.

Then they're stuck with it for 12 months.

Daisy Alexander is a local insurance agent with S.E. Benchmark Insurance Agency here in St. Lucie County. She helps people figure out what plan actually makes sense for them - not just what sounds cheapest on paper.

Indian River County School Board unanimously approved a consolidation plan merging multiple schools starting in 2026-2027, including moving Vero Beach High's freshman center into the main campus to save $1.2 million. The changes respond to a decline of about 2,000 students since 2019 and will restructure campuses including Oslo Middle, Osceola Magnet, and Rosewood Magnet.

👉 Read more (WQCS)

Regatta Luxury Apartments, a 312-unit complex, is under construction on 17.6 acres in western Fort Pierce near Samuel S. Gaines Academy. The development will include a clubhouse, pool, gym, and playground, adding to the area's growing housing stock near Interstate 95.

👉 Read more (TCPalm, TCPalm subscription may be required)

Stuart's new $2.7 million outdoor amphitheater at Memorial Park is on track to open by spring with capacity for 1,700 people, more than triple the Lyric Theatre's size. The venue will include lawn seating, a green room, and an architectural entryway as the final phase of Memorial Park improvements.

👉 Read more (WPTV)

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See you Monday!
With Love, Ja’Min

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