School is Over – But the Work is Not! Summer Referendum Projects 2025

Another school year has come to a close. The 2024-2025 year is in the books and kids are looking forward to summer vacation.

But, if you think our schools remain dark and empty over the summer, think again.

While students and staff are out of the buildings, it’s the perfect time to get work done!

This summer, 53 of our schools are having projects done thanks to the half-penny sales tax referendum.

As a refresher, voters passed the referendum in 2018, and in that time, more than a billion dollars has been received for our schools. $960,000,000 has already been spent on projects ranging from complete air conditioning replacements to security system upgrades and roofing repairs.

This summer, more projects are taking place.

Here are a few examples of construction going on at our schools while most of us are at the beach or road-tripping up north.

• Mitchell Elementary School is getting a full HVAC replacement. Mitchell is also getting a paint job and windows replaced.
• Plant High School is undergoing a drainage project that will take weeks to complete.
• Buckhorn Elementary is having the inside of its buildings repainted.
• Wilson Middle School is getting interior and exterior waterproofing.
• Franklin Middle School is receiving a new roof.
• Gaither High School is having its bleachers replaced.
• Riverview Elementary is one of 10 schools having its media center refreshed.

Teri Madill is the principal of Riverview Elementary. She says the media refresh will be a game changer for her students and she’s so grateful to the referendum for making it possible.

“As the hub of our school, the media center is a place where students an explore, learn and create. Having a new media center is going to provide a more up-to-date, advanced and comfortable place for students, staff and community to collaborate,” she explained. “New books, Morning Show technology and Maker Space are only a few of the tools this referendum is allowing our school to have access to.”

That’s the story at nearly every school in our district. Thanks to the half-penny sales tax referendum, we’ve been able to keep schools cool, make them safer and purchase better technology for our students and staff.

So, remember, as the kids run out of the building on the last day of school, their work may be over for a couple months… but another type of work is just getting started. And the end goal is to make our schools the safest and very best schools possible for your family.

Learn more about our #HalfPennyPromise on our website, including the team of officials that greenlights projects: hillsboroughschools.org/Page/6627.

Originally published in the June 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.