Shovels are officially in the dirt for Palatka Primary School, a new kindergarten-through-second-grade campus planned for the heart of Palatka. Putnam County School District leaders and local officials gathered Tuesday to kick off construction on a school they say will eventually serve about 1,000 of the city’s youngest students, with an opening targeted for the 2027–28 school year.
Part of a $300 Million Revitalization Push
The new primary school is one piece of a voter-approved $300 million general obligation bond package designed to rebuild and renovate schools across Putnam County, according to the Putnam County School District. The district’s Revitalization Plan places Palatka Primary in Phase 2 of the program and spells out timelines, project sequencing and bond oversight.
The bond referendum, approved in November 2022, created the long-term funding framework for the multi-year construction program and set the stage for new campuses like Palatka Primary. Regional coverage from WUFT has detailed how district leaders plan to use the money and what they hope the upgrades will mean for students.
Where Students Will Go While Crews Take Over
To keep kids learning while the construction crews move in, the district is juggling grade levels between campuses. Palatka Intermediate, the new grades 3–6 school rising at 156 Horseman Club Road, is slated to open next school year. That building is expected to take in the older elementary students while the new K–2 campus goes up.
Current K–2 students at the primary site will be temporarily reassigned to other Palatka schools, with the district mapping out short-term moves to existing campuses. Reporting from News4JAX explains that officials shifted to a K–2 and 3–6 model in part to cut down on how often students have to change schools.
Design, Size and Who Is Building It
The district broke ground for Palatka Primary on the site of Kelley Smith Elementary and plans to largely demolish the existing campus to make room for the new facility, according to Palatka Daily News. The outlet reports the new school will span about 146,520 square feet and is being built to serve just over 1,000 students.
Ajax Building Co. is listed as the project’s contractor, and the campus is scheduled to open in the 2027–28 school year. District officials told Palatka Daily News the work is part of a broader push to modernize classrooms, upgrade technology and expand outdoor learning spaces across the county.
What Officials Are Saying
Speakers at the groundbreaking leaned into the idea that this is about more than bricks and concrete. “The new campus will provide modern classrooms, updated technology and expanded outdoor learning spaces,” Sandra Gilyard told Palatka Daily News. Architect James Marini called the project “a professional milestone and a personal honor” as he addressed the crowd.
What Happens Next
The district’s Revitalization Plan and related board documents spell out the next steps, including permitting, demolition of existing structures and staged construction. The Bond Oversight Committee is tasked with keeping tabs on how the money is spent and how the schedule holds up as funds are released.
Residents who want to follow along can find project timelines, financial reports and construction updates in the Putnam County School District’s Revitalization Plan materials.
