Baldwin Co. Public Schools buys 106 acres in Daphne, still considering options
Baldwin County, Ala. (WPMI) — At the January 19th Baldwin County Public Schools Board of Education meeting, members approved Superintendent Eddie Tyler's recommendation to purchase 106 acres in Daphne for $3.1 million. The land is located on the northwest corner of Corte Road and 181.
It's an area that's seen explosive growth in recent years, with big subdivisions like Jubilee Farms added. Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune says in the last 20 years Daphne has grown 60%.
"The growth is to the east. We're surrounded by water, Spanish Fort and Fairhope. So our growth is to the east," said LeJeune.
Baldwin County Public Schools says it is the fastest growing school district in the state. To help keep pace, the district made additions at Daphne East and Daphne Middle, built the 9th grade academy at the high school and built an additional elementary school, Belforest Elementary, to add to the Daphne feeder pattern. According to school records, more than 300 new students have enrolled at Belforest since it opened for the 2020-2021 school year.
And we've learned another school could be built at the newly purchased 106 acres site in Daphne. One school board member told NBC 15 News board member have discussed in work sessions adding another elementary school and transportation building on the site. A spokesperson for the school district said nothing is set in stone and there are several options but added they do know the district will not build a high school there. The spokesperson says it will likely be years before anything is done with the land and that the decision to purchase it was based on long range planning and the location.
LeJeune says he know all too well with growth comes changes.
"If you're not growing, you're going the opposite way, which has its own issues and problems. Now the amount of growth that we're having and seeing, it's such a short amount of time, that causes a lot of issues that we have to work on. Stormwater road repaving, all those things.