Volusia County Schools breaks ground on new Tomoka Elementary School.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

Volusia County Schools commenced a momentous chapter in the history of education with a groundbreaking ceremony held on Tuesday, June 27, for the highly anticipated construction of the new Tomoka Elementary School in Ormond Beach. The event brought together esteemed school district officials, elected representatives, and community members to celebrate the school's illustrious past and promising future.

Originally established in 1968, Tomoka Elementary School will undergo a complete rebuild at its current location, 999 Old Tomoka Road in Ormond Beach. During the construction phase, students will be temporarily accommodated at the former Osceola Elementary campus until the new facility is complete.

"It's a little bit bittersweet because we're saying goodbye to the old, but we're getting ready for a brand-new chapter. However, this is just a building. The people that make the history of this wonderful community, you are all here today. One of the most important investments we can make at any point in our lives is to invest in the education of our children," said Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin during the ceremony.

The new Tomoka Elementary School, projected to open its doors to students in the fall of 2024, aims to accommodate a larger student body, expanding from 734 students at the end of the 2022-23 school year to 836 student stations, while the new design draws inspiration from the neighboring Tomoka State Park and the local community, featuring a captivating color scheme, combining shades of blue and green, symbolizing the Tomoka River and the area's majestic old-growth oak trees.

"What's so wonderful is the children are walking into an enriched environment where they are going to continue to learn and grow and develop. This time next year or shortly thereafter, you'll walk in, and you'll say this is where our next generation of children are going to live, and not only will they be blessed, but the entire community will be blessed," said Board Chair Jamie Haynes, expressing her enthusiasm about the enriched environment that awaits the students.

This nature-inspired design also pays homage to the educational legacy of the Tomoka area near Ormond Beach, where schools have played a vital role since 1885 when the region's first school was established at the Tomoka Settlement along the Tomoka River.

Architectural firm BRPH and construction company WELBRO Building Corporation have collaborated to incorporate various elements into the design. These include energy-efficient initiatives and an emphasis on natural lighting within educational spaces. Furthermore, the new school will retain the campus's cherished old-growth trees and several artifacts from the previous campus, including the iconic totem pole and clay art.

"This school is so important to the City of Ormond Beach. It's a huge part of our history and who we are. Our public schools, historically, have made America what they are today, and we live in a fantastic country because of these schools; and especially starting with our elementary schools. Ormond Beach has some amazing elementary schools, and we're very proud of them," said Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington.

According to the school district, the construction process should have minimal impact on the public, with the new design incorporating additional space for pick-up lane stacking, thereby minimizing road obstructions during afternoon dismissal.