We’ve all seen the headlines for the new state-of-the-art VPK facility. However, state-of-the-art comes at a hefty price tag: $2,538,993 to be exact. This new facility is being touted as bringing all of Leon County Schools VPK under one roof. Early learning is important and this is why our elected officials should work to get the most out of our tax dollars and to ensure our students have the best chance at success.
Most of the elementary schools already host VPK programs. When our parents enroll their students in VPK, they are still directed to those school sites. We can’t help but wonder what those locations need to enrich learning for our littlest students. Could we bolster those locations more and have a greater impact?
Furthermore, this is the location of the previous Heritage Trails School which Hanna closed. Heritage Trails offered education for students requiring substantially more resources and care than the general population. These students were eligible for the district to receive state funding dollars (same as general education) as well as additional funding for ESE (exceptional student education). However, they are now placed in schools that were not equipped- and may still not be equipped- to manage their needs or provide the same level of care as Heritage. Heritage’s expertise was consolidated to that campus and someone with specialty training was always close by.
Neighbors are asking if only students in that school zone will be utilizing the upgrades, as the site of this preschool is located at 283 Trojan Trail.
What $2.5 Million Buys
In January 2026 we requested the expenditures for the renovations at 283 Trojan Trail. After two months, several public relations news articles, and a records fee we received our request on March 23, 2026. We assume the district was pushing the news articles to educate the community on VPK. However, after School Board Member Jones stated they needed to “control the narrative,” the impact is public propaganda. Additionally the timing of our requests and the slew of news articles (we counted six but there could be more), adds to the impact of those stated words.
This renovation was not a quick flip on HGTV but instead was a complete rebuild. The architects not only revised the currents toilet facilities they included a “private toilet” as requested by the district. They added doors and walls with more doors, and included optional new ceilings and lighting (which the district opted for).
The vendor transactions confirm much of the district’s specified requests. $150,747 was spent on just doors. Another $84,704 on the optional upgraded acoustic ceilings. But these charges aren’t even the big spending. Construction costs for widening the doorframes, building new walls and adding on. Then the cost of the 2 playgrounds ($94,752 and $62,370) and the $131,363 pre-engineered metal building (think metal pole barn). The list of elite upgrades continue with flooring and removing a chain link fence to replace it with a chain link fence.
Vendor Patterns
While combing through the Purchase Orders we noticed the ones that had multiple quotes from other businesses which indicate a fair competitive bidding process. But we also noticed when there wasn’t. So we researched the district policy “6000 Finances.”
“For items or a group of like items whose total cost is more than $8,000, but less than $50,000, staff will solicit informal quotes from three (3) or more vendors.”
Competitive bidding also saves tax payers money. Many municipalities have limits on projects, the spending for VPK appears to have a limitless budget. Our team discussed the various reasons there would be some vendors with multiple purchase orders and all under $8,000. Ultimately we all agree that the impact sows more public distrust. Two vendors exceed $50,000 with all purchase orders remaining under $8,000. Two others exceed $40,000 with all purchase orders remaining under $8,000.
Our team places the sole responsibility for this oversight on the district and the executives running the district. All our neighbors should be awarded a fair and equal bid process which allows an opportunity for all our hard-working neighbors to obtain government work and protects our tax dollars.
Adding Insult To Injury
Our educators requested classroom moving help. All they were requesting was maybe a couple of maintenance workers to help them get boxes to the car or classrooms. The district denied this request citing concerns of cost.
The district also spent $40,349 on movers for the Pre-K building and another $6,043.09 on just boxes and tape.
Many of our educators and hard-working neighbors in the district have reported needing roof repairs, playground repairs/replacement, classroom technology, and furniture replacements. All the reported needs could qualify under the capital outlay designation.
Assuming that the Pre-K renovations all came from capital outlay as well, we believe our current school sites could benefit more from $2.5 million dollars in capital outlay dollars. Unfortunately we’ve seen in the IDEA funding how the district uses it as a means to pay for technology, furniture, and travel rather than on the needs of that student population. We can do more with all our budgets when the money is spent from the appropriate places. This means more money for our educators, social workers, paraprofessionals, transportation drivers, interventionists, and coaches. Small adjustments like this could mean smaller class sizes, more resources, and better student success
Additional Observations
While looking through these expenditures, we also note that some of the purchase orders have hand written notes which state things like “Lively East Only” or “LE Funds.” However, some of these notes also state “Killearn Lakes funds,” and “Griffin funds.” While we assume the district would not take money from one site and give to a VPK program which every student does not has access to, this notation certainly gives that impact.
Neighbors are alleging that this VPK site is using funds from other school sites and grant funds. If these allegations are true, it calls into question the integrity of our district. We will paraphrase what Darryl Jones states frequently, to know what a person values you need only to look at their checkbook. We agree with this statement. Not only do we think it’s important that we look at what they are spending our money on but what schools they are taking money from.
Investing in early education is important, but investing in our current students is equally important. We are better together but that only happens when we do not take resources from current students. When we spend funds from the appropriate budgets, we are able to have more funding for things like teachers, support staff, and classroom resources.
The entire spending of Leon County Schools requires the executives to do much more than a quick move of numbers and titles. We need an overhaul of their spending which looks at if they are following their own bidding process, categorizing funds appropriately, reducing executive positions and consolidating executive workloads.
