The Leon County School Board is considering a significant reorganization of its facility footprint, sparked by an urgent need to relocate the district’s Technology and Information Services (TIS) department. During a recent workshop, Superintendent Rocky Hanna presented a proposal to purchase a vacant facility on Killearn Center Boulevard—the former home of a television station—as a potential solution for the district’s failing tech infrastructure.
A “Technology Center” in Crisis
The current TIS building, located at the corner of Appleyard and Pensacola Street, is a 46-year-old former electrical supply warehouse that has been “repurposed, repurposed, repurposed” over the decades. Justin Williamson, Director of TIS, warned board members that the facility’s infrastructure is no longer adequate to house the $5 million to $6 million worth of equipment that runs everything from district internet and security cameras to student data systems.
Williamson detailed several critical risks at the current site: The HVAC system, which must keep the server room at 68 degrees, is failing, risking equipment overheating. The fire suppression system is 30 years old, and the backup generators and power supplies are roughly 25 years old. The building suffers from constant leaks, including incidents where water poured directly into the server room.
If the current facility were to experience a total failure, Williamson estimated it could take at least a month to fully restore all district services.
The Proposed Solution
The Killearn Center property, which was appraised between $3.4 million and $3.9 million, was built specifically for digital broadcasting. Unlike the current TIS building, the facility features raised floors, gas fire suppression, and triple-redundant HVAC systems already in place.
Superintendent Hanna noted that the district’s current TIS property has been appraised at roughly $2.2 million to 2.3million Also, a buyer is already interested in purchasing it. After accounting for the sale and necessary move?in costs,Hanna estimated the net investment for the newbuilding would be approximately $1.5 million.
A Push for “One Roof” Consolidation
While board members generally agreed that the TIS department needs a new home, some pushed for a more comprehensive strategy to consolidate the district’s various administrative offices.
Board member Alva Smith argued against “piecemealing” buildings, suggesting the district should explore housing all employees under one roof to reduce overhead costs like roof maintenance and plumbing. “Now is an optimal time for us to be having this conversation,” Smith noted, pointing to the decline of commercial real estate prices.
The board has requested a comprehensive audit of all current administrative spaces, including the main administrative building and satellite offices like those on Bloxham Street. The goal of the audit is to determine the exact number of offices needed to potentially consolidate the entire district administration into a single, more efficient location.
Next Steps
The board requested a “menu” of options and a detailed plan of action before moving forward with the Karnes Center purchase. Superintendent Hannah agreed to reach out to local brokers to see if other properties could accommodate both the high-tech requirements of TIS and the general office needs of the district’s entire administrative staff.
The discussion also touched on the potential impact of the upcoming half-cent sales tax referendum, which could provide additional capital for long-term facility planning and physical plant improvements.
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