OCALA, FL (352today.com) – If your child goes to school in north Marion County, you’ve probably wondered about things like class sizes, building conditions, or what the future might hold.
At a community meeting on March 26, 2025, representatives from Marion County Public Schools sat down with parents and neighbors at North Marion Middle School – not to make decisions, but to listen. They shared honest updates about enrollment, aging buildings, and what each school might need in the coming years. Here’s what was said, and why it matters to families like yours.
|LEARN MORE ABOUT HORSE COUNTRY: From sports to business, our equine section has it all
Stephen Ayers, Director of Student Assignments and Records, discussed enrollment figures, while Ivonne Bumbach provided detailed information on school facilities. A Q&A session followed their presentations. The event also served as a tool for the district to assess community interests and gather feedback.
School Board Chair Lori Conrad (District 2) and Dr. Sarah James (District 5) attended to observe and listen.
“Facility capacity is generated by the State of Florida Department of Education, what we call FISH numbers, which is Florida Inventory of School Houses,” said Ayers. “The state assigns the number of students stationed at every school, and that’s what gives us our building capacity. Our enrollment numbers are based on our 120th day student count, and those are published our website, every 20 days.”
Bumbach shared insights into the age, condition, and future maintenance needs of several campuses:
Fessenden Elementary, with a historic building dating back to 1936, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Maintenance needs over the next 20 years are projected at $12 million, with over $7 million already invested since 2010.
Reddick-Collier, built mainly in 1992, includes a building from 1952. It faces $13 million in upcoming needs, with $1.3 million spent since 2010.
Anthony Elementary has structures from 1936 to 2004. It will require $7.2 million over 20 years; over $2 million has been spent since 2008.
Sparr Elementary dates from 1964–1990s, needing $4.8 million going forward, with $3.8 million already invested since 2008.
North Marion County Elementary School Capacity Overview:
Anthony Elementary: Capacity 467, Enrollment 349, Utilization 76%
Fessenden Elementary: Capacity 428, Enrollment 435, Utilization 102%
Reddick-Collier: Capacity 686, Enrollment 341, Utilization 50%
Sparr Elementary: Capacity 414, Enrollment 427, Utilization 103%