Caribbean National Weekly

Miami-Dade Students Received a Special Treat

By Andrew Karim··3 min read
Miami-Dade Students Received a Special Treat

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ (M-DCPS) has announced the opening of many beautiful new facilities for the 2017-2018 school year.  These new and renovated schools were made possible by the General Obligation Bond (GOB), overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2012

The facilities are:


  1. Bunche Park Elementary School - This brand new $10.2 million, 388 student-station facility comes equipped with classroom technology throughout, and includes:

    • Pre-K through Intermediate classrooms

    • An Exceptional Student Education (ESE)classroom wing

    • Art and music labs

    • A media center

    • Kitchen/dining areas

    • Administrative offices

    • E. covered area

    • Basketball courts

    • A primary play area

    • Other supporting spaces





  1. Frederick Douglass Elementary School –This brand new $9.7 million, 280 student-station facility also comes equipped with classroom technology throughout, and includes:

    • Pre-K through Intermediate classrooms

    • Art and music labs

    • A media center

    • Kitchen/dining areas

    • Administrative offices

    • E. covered area

    • Basketball courts

    • Primary play area

    • Other supporting spaces





  1. Toni Bilbao Preparatory Academy – This $15.1 million project is opening in two phases. This first phase provides the Pre-K component to a proposed K-8 59,000 square foot two-story facility that will house:

    • 750 Pre-K through 5thgrade student stations

    • Administrative offices

    • Extended learning areas

    • Language arts, art, and music labs

    • Resource rooms

    • A media center

    • Kitchen/dining areas

    • Playground and play court areas

    • Drop-off areas and parking





  1. West Lakes Preparatory Academy – This phased project entails conversion of the former Miami MacArthur North Senior High School to a PK-8 facility.

    • The first two phases have been completed.

    • At complete build-out, this facility will house up to 1200 PK-8 students

    • Total project allocation for all phases is approximately $18 million





  1. Madie Ives K-8 Center – This is a $17.3 million PK-8 conversion of the former elementary school, which includes:

    • A combination of newbuildings to accommodate the upper grades

    • Renovation of the remaining eight buildings

    • New classroom technology throughout

    • Playground and play court improvements

    • Drop-off and parking

    • Other ancillary improvements





  1. West Homestead K-8 Center – This $10.27 million dollar project ($775,000 of which was contributed by the City of Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency) converted the former elementary school to a K-8 with:

    • A combination of new buildings

    • Selective building demolition and renovation of the remaining spaces

    • The new addition will house:

      1. 264 upper academy students in grades 6-8 (approximately 23,000 Gross Square Feet) and includes general purpose classrooms

      2. Science classrooms







  • Skills development labs



  1. An art patio

  2. A dining patio

  3. K-8 P.E. spaces



  • Administration and related support spaces

  • New classroom technology throughout



  1. Shenandoah Middle School – This $7.2 million project consists of renovations which includes:

    • Window and door replacements

    • Heating

    • Ventilation

    • Air conditioning (HVAC) improvements

    • Site and play court improvements

    • Covered walkway improvements

    • Fire alarm system and security camera enhancements

    • Electrical upgrades

    • Flooring and ceiling renovations

    • Exterior painting

    • New classroom technology throughout





  1. Miami Sunset Senior High School –The $6.9 million investment includes:

    • A new P.E. track and field improvements

    • New Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) studio

    • HVAC improvements

    • Interior wall, ceiling, lighting and flooring improvements

    • Roofing; restroom and plumbing renovations

    • Selective exterior and interior door replacement

    • Security system enhancements

    • Portable removal and site restoration

    • Exterior paint

    • New classroom technology





  1. MAST Academy @Homestead –This phased project culminated with the renovation and remodeling of the school’s third floor.  Overall, the $3 million improvement project included:

    • Classroom technology throughout

    • Six new classrooms

    • A science lab

    • Core student area

    • New staff restrooms

    • Miscellaneous improvements throughout to accommodate the medical iPrep program





  1. Norland Elementary School – This $2.9 millionproject includes:

    • A new classroom building

    • New P.E. shelter and covered walkaway

    • Site improvements

    • Portable removal

    • Site restoration and renovation of the existing facility consisting of:

      1. Restroom renovations

      2. Selective flooring replacement







  • Ceiling improvements



  1. Window replacement where needed

  2. Exterior paint

  3. New classroom technology



  1. Coral Terrace Elementary School – The $2.46 million renovation project includes:

    • Window replacement

    • HVAC improvements

    • A new playground

    • Exterior painting

    • New classroom technology throughout





  1. Southside Elementary School –This historic restoration includes:

    • Interior and exterior improvements of classrooms and group restrooms in Building 1

    • Installation of a new playground surface

    • New classroom technology



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