Several key athletic field projects, and one housing project in Key West, took a step forward during a recent Monroe County School Board meeting at Coral Shores High School.
Patrick Lefere, school district executive director of operations, updated the board on the Rex Weech field project in Key West. The upgrade to the field’s facilities won’t exceed $4,992,577. The design process is complete, construction starts next month and completion is expected in May 2026.
Rex Weech, home to the Key West High School baseball team, will host a college baseball matchup between Florida International University and University of Central Florida in a night game on Oct. 11
Lefere also briefed the board on the baseball field upgrades proposed at Founders Park in Islamorada. This project is still in the design phase with an estimated cost of $6.1 million. The board saw new renderings of the design concept. Board member Sue Woltanski commented that the plans need to include Coral Shores baseball signs and logos.
Board chair Mindy Conn questioned the size of the proposed multipurpose building. Lefere said the building, of about 2,000 square feet, will include locker rooms, space for the umpires and rest rooms. Conn stressed the need for strong documentation describing the agreement between the school district and Islamorada.
Lefere responded that there was excellent cooperation in the planning process with the village. He expects to have a design development plan for the October board meeting and construction documents in February.
Despite the vigorous public comment on the baseball field project during a village meeting on Aug. 18, there was no public comment on the project at the school board meeting. The school board is fully funding the project.
In other matters, the board voted to formalize the lease for the Trumbo affordable workforce housing complex with TVC Development, intended for school district employees. Board member Yvette Mira-Talbott asked the legal staff to ensure that sufficient homes would be available for new employees each year. The agreement states that a minimum of 10% of the units, 15 units, would be available for new renters each year.
Vice chair Darren Horan emphasized that this development is not meant to be permanent housing, but as a way for employees to get quickly established. The rents for the units vary depending on the income of the employee, but can be as low as $1,200 a month or more than $2,000 a month for a one-bedroom unit. Woltanski said the district has no flexibility in the rental cost formula.
New Superintendent Ed Tierney praised the school bus drivers, cafeteria staff, principals, staff and teachers for what he called a “flawless” first day of school.
After Tierney’s comments, the board opened public comments to Lisa Mongelia, executive director of the History of Diving Museum. She presented a report on what the museum does in cooperation with schools in the district. The Museum in Motion program provides interactive and hands-on educational experiences about diving, exploration and marine life in county schools. The museum staff coordinates school visits with particular curriculum modules. The school board members expressed their appreciation for the program.
State Rep. Jim Mooney addressed the board along with the district’s lobbyist, Kate DeLoach, to discuss state funding for education. DeLoach said that about $38 billion, or 33%, of the state’s annual expenditure goes to education.
Mooney and DeLoach both emphasized the hostile budget environment in Tallahassee. DeLoach said state money for advanced placement curriculum programs looked like it would be blocked, but it was released some time near the end of the 105-day legislative session.
“We don’t ask for anything we don’t need,” Mooney said. He did get $3.5 million into the budget for the Trumbo housing. DeLoach and Mooney both emphasized that the next legislative session is coming quickly. Some committee meetings start in early October and requests for appropriations in the 2026 session are due by Nov. 21 of this year.
Mooney said three Coral Shores High School graduates are serving in the Florida House. Mooney is joined in the House by Bill Conerly from district 72 in an area east of Sarasota and Richard Gentry representing district 27 north of Orlando.
