This project was planned by the architectural firm of Long & Associates Architects/Engineers, Inc. On November 18, 2003, the Board appointed the construction management firm of Hardin Construction Company. This new facility is located in the New Tampa area and is a reuse of the Shields Middle School design. The school opened in August 2006 and relieved overcrowding at Benito and Liberty Middle Schools.

An interlocal agreement with Hillsborough County, approved by the Board on October 25, 2006, provides for colocation of the Live Oak Sports Complex in the New Tampa area on the campus with Bartels Middle School and Turner Elementary School. Woodroffe Corporation is the assigned architect for Turner Elementary School and is under contract with the Board of County Commissioners for the Live Oak Sports Complex. Long & Associates Architects/Engineers, Inc. is the assigned architect for Bartels Middle School. Hardin Construction Group, Inc. is the assigned construction management firm for Turner Elementary School, Bartels Middle School, and Live Oak Sports Complex. Change Order No. 7 to the Bartels project mistakenly added the cost of the bleachers and connective sidewalk to the Bartels project. These costs should have been added to the Live Oak Sports Complex project. Change Order No. 12 reverses the charges of Change Order No. 7. These charges were transferred to the Live Oak Sports Complex in Change Order No. 1 (See Attachment) of the Live Oak Sports Complex project. Change Order No. 13 provides a credit for the direct purchase of materials by the District.