School Board members Linda Cuthbert & Melody Johnson joined by Superintendent Tom Russell in groundbreaking for Chisholm Elementary in New Smyrna Beach

Photos for Headline Surfer /

By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. 

The new Chisholm School has two phases of construction and will be built on the current campus while the existing school continues to operate. The first phase includes a two-story classroom building, cafetorium, media center and administration and is scheduled to be open for students in August 2019. The second phase of construction will begin upon occupancy of Phase I and will include a second classroom building and physical education pavilion. Upon completion, the school's courtyard will include a raised concrete platform for outdoor performances and the art room will have an outside patio facing the courtyard. The second grade's classroom gardens will be outside their classroom building within the courtyard area.

 

The design of the new school continues with the standards for a 21st century facility incorporating collaborative learning areas, safety and security features and technology throughout the school. The design process included input from students, parents, faculty, staff and the community.  

 

The architectural elements of the school will be a nod to the school's history and its location in coastal New Smyrna Beach. The school's front will feature an ocean wave and utilize ocean and coastal colors, a representation of the entry feature signs on US 1 and SR 44 in New Smyrna Beach. The reception area will include a display that is intended to showcase the history of the historic westside neighborhood and Chisholm School, which was once the high school for the African American community. 

 

In recognition of the importance of the arts in Volusia's schools as well as the prominent role of the arts in New Smyrna Beach, two wall murals will also be displayed in the front reception area to showcase local artists and the school's art teacher, Steve Hardock. 

The new school is being constructed to be larger than the current school and will accommodate a minimum of 750 students. It will be the second to be built with funds from the ½-cent sales tax extension. The first school is a replacement school for Pierson Elementary and will open August 2018.

"So today we did a groundbreaking for Chisholm Elementary in NSB," said, Johnson, who is in the final year of her first term since her big win in 2014. she convincingly knocked out the incumbent here victory    the last of her first year of her first  The voters supported a half cent sales tax and this is the 2nd of 5 schools to be built! It’s exciting times at Volusia County Schools and I am honored to be a part of it! Next is Deltona Middle School!

 

Quick Facts

School capacity:         750 

Location:                     557 Ronnoc Ln., New Smyrna Beach

Grades:                       K-5

Site Acreage:              24

Square Footage:         94,000 gross square feet

Construction Cost:      $20.7 million

Funding:                      sales-tax funded

Project Start Date:      06/01/2018

Open to students:       August 2019

Architect:                    Rhodes + Brito Architects 

Contractor:                 H.J. High Construction