3 major construction projects are almost finished for Manatee schools

One thing that seems to be never-ending in the School District of Manatee County is construction.

With the population continuing to explode in Manatee County, it seems like the work never is done. Three main construction projects are currently progressing in East County schools. 

The most prominent is the building of the new Lake Manatee K-8, located at 17210 Academic Avenue in Lakewood Ranch. The elementary section of the project opens Aug. 11 on the first day of the new school year. Work crews are putting the finishing touches on the school but should be finished in time for opening day. The middle school portion on the campus is scheduled to be ready in August 2026.

It was important to the district that the elementary portion of Lake Manatee K-8 was finished on time. 

“We had B.D. Gullett Elementary School bursting at the seams,” said Reginald Goff, director of the construction services department at the School District of Manatee County. “We had it to get Lake Manatee K-8 built in order to reduce overcrowding in that area,. This new school will do that for us.” 

At Carlos E. Haile Middle School, an HVAC renovation project is underway that includes a 10-classroom addition.

“In the process of changing out the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, it gave us an opportunity to gut the entire buildings, put in new ceilings, put in new LED lighting, paint, and carpet,” Goff said. “We put in new smart screens technology and it gave us an opportunity to totally upgrade the campus while adding 10 classroom additions which gave us more capacity to handle more students.”

Goff said the Haile project is 99% complete with only a locker room to finish that should be completed in July. 

Tara Elementary School is also going through a campus wide renovation that will add four classrooms and replace the plumbing, lighting, floors and more. The sixth and seventh phases of the project will be cafeteria and kitchen upgrades and a final classroom addition. It will be complete by late November. 

Here is a look at projects:

Lake Manatee K-8 

Lake Manatee will have five primary buildings all connected via walkway canopies. It is a 40-acre site with a courtyard at the center. There will be a covered play area and two main parking lots. There are separate areas for student drop-off and pick-up, a queuing loop and a bus loop. 

• Cost of project: $105,609,281       
• Construction manager: NDC Construction
• Architect/Engineer: HKS, Inc.
• Substantial completion date: Phase I (elementary school): Aug. 31  
• Phase II completion (middle school): Feb. 27, 2026     
• Student stations: 1,692

Carlos E. Haile Middle School 

A new 10-classroom addition and comprehensive HVAC renovation project includes new HVAC system, windows, doors and insulation system. It will improve campus safety and security and replace the fire alarm system. 

• Cost of project: $45,204,358
• Construction manager: Halfacre Construction Company
• Architect/Engineer: Long & Associates
• Substantial completion date: Aug. 1 for final phase of locker room renovations 
• Student stations: The project will increase the school from 788 to 1,253 student stations. 

Tara Elementary School 

The campuswide renovation and addition project at Tara Elementary adds four classrooms, replaces roofing, improves traffic issues; adds fencing, implements administrative/reception security upgrades. Campuswide improvements include new plumbing, LED lighting, windows, doors, carpet, tile flooring and more. 

• Cost of project: $35,259,423
• Construction manager: Creative Contractors, Inc.
• Architect/Engineer: Sweet Sparksman Architecture and Interiors
• Substantial completion date: 11/2025
• Student stations: The project will increase the school from 700 to 793 student stations.