On March 8, Edith I. Starke Elementary broke ground on its new campus, continuing the legacy of education and community engagement in DeLand. See photos.
Established in 1956 on land that was once a pecan grove, Parsons Street School, later named to honor the school’s first principal, Edith I. Starke, has continued to expand its infrastructure over the years, currently serving just under 300 students. The new campus, built as a full replacement for the existing school, will have space for 650 students and incorporate a new media center, administrative office spaces, art and music classrooms, and bus and parent pick-up and drop-off driveways.
“We have had multiple projects with the construction manager Wharton-Smith,” Volusia County School COO Patty Carr said. “We are so excited to continue that partnership.”
“The school’s history and how it’s impacted the community make this project special,” said Senior Project Manager Rachel Bouffard. “Investing in education is a key tenet of Wharton-Smith, and we are proud to help Volusia County continue to grow the next generation of leaders.”
Joining Starke Elementary, Volusia County Schools, and the Volusia County School Board in the project and groundbreaking were Wharton-Smith, Song + Associates, Inc., the City of DeLand, the DeLand Fire Department, the DeLand & Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce, the West Volusia NAACP, Bethel AME Church, and former Starke principals and employees.
The school is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.
