TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County Public Schools announced Thursday plans to build a new Just Elementary School and Stewart Middle School on their current sports fields.
“This was the process we went through in working with our community to get to this point today,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “It’s an example of collaboration with the community.
The district said Stewart students will not be impacted at all — they will just switch buildings when construction is done.
“What’s exceptional about this design,” Ayres explained. “Number one is the property it sits on. It’s all going to be on the Riverfront.”
The old buildings will be torn down and made into new sports fields and parking.
“As a school system, we can’t do anything by ourselves, so it’s about our community working with us,” Ayres said. “This is an excellent example of that.”
This announcement comes after Just Elementary was closed and repurposed last year, disappointing the community. The planned development is the result of the task force that was formed after the shutdown.
The audience today included Delano Stewart, son of Garland Stewart, the middle school’s namesake.
“He wanted to learn and he let nothing stop him from learning,” Stewart said. “He was never afraid of a thing in his life.”
Stewart said this was progress.
“The rendering will not be as important as the teachers who teach,” Stewart said. “Who have the desire and the zeal to make their students do well.”
Superintendent Ayres said the schools should be open in August 2027.
