FCCJ, Duval County Discuss Joint School

In an unprecedented move in Duval County, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, the Duval County School District and the Davis family that owns Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. are talking about opening a nearly $12 million joint campus, located near U.S. Highway 1 and the proposed State Road 9B.

Although in the early stages of planning, FCCJ officials hope to ask the Florida Legislature for $11.7 million in Public Education Capital Outlay funds, saying the money would be "highly cost-efficient given effective use of shared spaces, infrastructure and support systems." In turn, that money would be used to buy about 100 acres on a 200-acre parcel of land from the Davis family and to build the joint high school and college campus. FCCJ officials would like to see the campus open by 2007.