The District is planning to convert Sulphur Springs Elementary (K-5) to a K-8 facility for the school year beginning August 2015. Florida Statute 1013.31 requires that each School Board conduct an educational plant survey at least every five years. The Board approved the District's current survey on June 10, 2014. The survey recommends new facilities as well as additions, remodeling, and renovations at existing sites.  As exceptions to the survey recommendations arise, the Board is required to submit a "spot survey" to the Department of Education for each facility. A spot survey is now required for the conversion of Sulphur Springs Elementary School to a K-8.

On February 17, 2015, the School Board approved the attendance boundary and name change in support of the conversion of Sulphur Springs Elementary to Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School.

District staff is in the process of validating, and then will amend the Florida Inventory of School Houses (FISH) reports for Sulphur Springs Elementary, changing its classification from an elementary to a combination (K-8) school. Converting the elementary (K-5) to a K-8 will allow students to remain together with their classmates and teachers through the 8th grade providing continuity to both students and their families.   This first year will add only the 6^th grade with subsequent addition of the 7^th and 8^th grade levels.  An assessment of the facility needs to accommodate 7^th and 8^th grades is underway, and will be placed in the District Five Year Facilities Plan followed by another spot survey to reflect any new or remodeled facilities.   

The conversion to a K-8 School will not have an immediate financial impact.  Any future plant changes will come to the Board for approval as separate agenda items and be incorporated into the District's Five Year Facilities Work Plan.