Good Morning! The response from the newsletter this week has been pretty amazing! People are finding value in reading this which is the reason for starting Sunland News in the first place! I can’t say thank you enough. Continue to spread the word.

With that being said, let’s get into the news.

— Ja'Min

What to Expect:

1. 🏫 Student Surge and Growing Pains: St. Lucie County Schools see huge increase in enrollment.

2. 🏥Primary Care Shortage across the Treasure Coast

3. 🏡 Mortgage rates are down: The rate on the 30-year-fixed mortgage is at 6.55%, the lowest since May 2023

4. 🎉 Week Events: Last weekend for Tax Free School Shopping. Get it while it’s hot!

📚 Read Time: 5.12 Minutes

☁️ Weather Forecast

Weather TL;DR: Hot and humid with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms—stay cool and hydrated!

🌤️ Day: High 94°F
🌙 Night: Low 78°F
🌅 Sunrise: 6:48 AM
🌇 Sunset: 8:04 PM

🌧️ Rain: 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon

🔥 Heat Advisory ⚠️ 

A heat advisory is in effect from 11 AM to 6 PM. Expect heat index values up to 110°F. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses. Stay safe and avoid outdoor activities if possible.

NEWS

☀️ Saint Lucie County Needs More Schools

Between the rapid growth of Tradition and the seemingly endless construction of new warehouses, it's clear that the landscape of St. Lucie County is changing quickly. And with that growth comes the pressing need for more schools. As we head into the new school year, St. Lucie County is bracing for another significant jump in student enrollment.

While the construction of Legacy High School is a welcome development, it's concerning that it won't open until August 2025. This year, the district expects at least another 1,800 students to enroll, pushing the total to around 49,000. This increase raises important questions about how the district will handle the overflow in the meantime. Larger class sizes could mean less one-on-one attention for students, potentially reversing the recent improvements in school performance.

Superintendent Dr. Jon Prince calls St. Lucie County a "Destination District" because it's more affordable than nearby areas. The district is quickly building new schools to keep up, including a new K-8 school opening in 2026. But new buildings are just one piece of the puzzle. Teachers will be needed to fill these new classrooms.

Talking to friends and family within the school system, many teachers are already feeling the strain, reporting class lists that are 4-8 students higher than last year. With the teacher shortage being a concern, it pays to think about how we’ll staff these new schools.

Dr. Prince also mentioned that the district is revising its school zoning policies to reduce transportation costs and ensure students attend schools closer to their homes. While zoning alone won't fully address the immediate challenges of overcrowded classrooms and the need for more qualified educators, it's certainly a step in the right direction.

As we welcome another school year, it's crucial for the community to stay informed and engaged in how these changes unfold. How will the district support its teachers and students during this period of rapid growth? Will there be new initiatives for after-school programs or technology enhancements to aid learning at home? These are questions we should all be asking as we navigate the future of education in St. Lucie County.

🔔 Sunland Bulletin

⛽ Nuck if you Buc-ee's: Buc-ee’s is still scheduled for the Treasure Coast. A rezoning request and preliminary development plan are expected to be presented to the county Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 15. [Read More Here]

🔧 Heads up! FP&L is doing some minor maintenance on the 91 sirens around St. Lucie and Martin counties this week: Expect a visual inspection and a quick test message ("This is a Test" followed by a 20-second air horn and "This was only a test"). They’ll be at it until Friday, Aug 9, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Don't worry—it's just a test!

🎒 Open Houses Start Today: Elementary schools will host their open houses today, Thursday, August 8. K-8, middle, and high schools will welcome students and parents on Friday, August 9. For detailed information and specific times, check out the Open House PDF.

💈 Slate’s Barber Shop 12th Annual Back-to-School Supply Giveaway: Honoring the legendary Darin Slater, this event will feature a back-to-school giveaway at the Sunland Garden’s Clubhouse on August 10th at 11 AM. [Flyer]

🚦 Check the traffic situation before heading out: Saint Lucie County will be testing bus routes all this week in preparation for the school year. Stay updated.

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📰Other News

🚤 TREASURE COAST AT LARGE

🥼 Primary Care Shortage across the Treasure Coast: The shortage may be due to population growth, attrition, lower pay compared to specialists or the preference by new medical school graduates for jobs treating only hospital patients. [More Info]

🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE

🚂 The 13.5 mile Northeast Corridor commuter rail will be under construction by the end of next year: Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins has provided an update on the county’s plan to add multiple rapid transit corridors. [More Info]

🌍 WORLD AT LARGE

🏡 Mortgage rates are down: The rate on the 30-year-fixed mortgage is at 6.55%, the lowest since May 2023, per data out Wednesday morning from the Mortgage Bankers Association.. [More Info]

🪮Sunland Picks

📷 Fort Pierce Connection

⛴️ A Boat is Sinking at the Marina

📸This Is Saint Lucie

🗓️ Things To Do

🎶 Vern Daysel at Little Jim's - Fort Pierce: Catch Vern Daysel performing live at Little Jim Bait & Tackle in Fort Pierce. The event is tomorrow, August 8th, starting at 1 PM. Join the crowd for an afternoon of great music.

🎉 Trivia Contest with Prizes: Join us on Thursday, August 8, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at The Saints Pub. Get your thinking caps on and get ready for our Trivia Contest! Call 772.281.2320 or visit thesaintspub.com.

🦘 Beat the Heat Indoor Petting Zoo: Head over to The Brennity at Tradition on Friday, August 9, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for the indoor petting zoo featuring Kangaroo Kuddles! The event is located at 10685 SW Stony Creek Way, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987.

📚 Back-to-School Family Expo: The sixth annual Christian FM event is full of family-fun activities, including meeting local heroes, shopping, and video game competitions. Join the fun on Saturday, August 10, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center, 9221 S.E. Event Center Place, Port St. Lucie. Free admission. More info at cityofpsl.com.

🕹️ Sunland Games

Answer from yesterday’s Sunland Games: B. 1961

(Answer will be provided in the next newsletter)