It’s a proposal that is dividing community members in Wedgefield, considered a rural area by residents in East Orange County.

"We determined that this would be a good place to build a community school," said school board member Joie Cadle. "Also, we don’t have many K-8’s that have gymnasiums and it’s my belief that this will be a great community asset for the families."

Cadle represents District 1, which encompasses Wedgefield.

The proposed two story K-8 school would have capacity for 1,030 students. The proposed site for the school is between Ortega Street and Paddock Street, near Bancroft Boulevard in Wedgefield. 

About 150 attended the meeting at East River High School and it seems like neighbors are split 50/50.

“Everybody is excited about the school and what I see up there is beautiful," said resident Nola Boyd. "They’ve done a great job planning and everything and incorporating the nature but this is going to forever change the flavor of Wedgefield. It’s never going to go back to what it is."

“All the busing that we do and all the extra overcrowding that we have in other schools," said resident Joe Sears. "I think it’s due and it’s time that we go ahead and bring a school in the local area."

If approved, district leaders added that 18 months before school opens, OCPS would begin the rezoning process. Cadle told community members the majority of the students at the proposed Wedgefield K-8 School would actually live in Wedgefield area.

Cadle said the district already owns the land and now they need it to be rezoned by Orange County Commissioners. 

District leaders are touting the proposed Wedgefield Area K-8 School as state of the art, which would promote 21st century learning.

“All of these classrooms will be set up digitally for children to have their own devices.  There will be the interactive boards in there that children will learn from," Cadle said.

Community members will have their next chance to voice their opinion on the proposed school, this time to Orange County government, on September 30 at East River High School.

The planning phase of the project took place from February 2013 to February 2014. The design phase is scheduled to continue until February 2015. Construction is projected to be completed soon after, with a targeted school opening in August 2016.