Parents upset new charter school is being built across the street from Alimacani Elementary

A turf war is brewing between an existing public school and new charter school in Jacksonville.

Parents said they’re upset that a River City Science Academy Charter School is being built right across the street from Alimacani Elementary School on San Pablo Road.

In May, the Duval County School Board approved the application submitted by River City Education Services Inc. to open River City Science Academy Intracoastal as a K-8 charter school.

The application was very vague when it came to where the school would be built.

The plans only said, “River City Science Academy Intracoastal will be located east of I-295, preferably north of Beach Blvd.”

Lisa Britt, the PTA president at Alimacani Elementary School, said the school board should’ve known the exact location before signing off.

She said the two schools are way too close.

Britt said she first learned about the new charter school when she saw bulldozers taking down trees to clear the site over a week ago.

Parents are worried for their children’s safety when it comes to traffic on the already busy two-lane road.

Britt said it’s going to become even more of a traffic nightmare.

Britt said she’s also concerned about how the new charter school could impact student enrollment at Alimacani Elementary, and in return, affect teachers and funding for the school.

Britt said parents will be holding a community meeting soon to hear information and share concerns related to the construction of the new charter school.

The charter school is set to open in August 2021.

Cox Media Group