Master Plan Updates

Dear St. John's Community,

As we head into the summer, the Board of Trustees is pleased to update you on the Master Plan and Capital Campaign, A Place to Grow.

We are entering the most exciting phase of the project to date as we officially begin site preparation. The transformation kicks off next week with our general contractor, Barr & Barr, securing the perimeter by installing construction fencing. This marks the start of several months of essential preconstruction services, including TECO’s work to relocate overhead utilities underground. While the site evolves physically, we are simultaneously finalizing the designs for the parking structure and the main academic building to ensure we are ready for the next stage of development.

The safety, continuity, and daily experience of our students and faculty remain the guiding principles of every decision we make. For each construction milestone, the school will communicate updates, including logistics plans for the return of students in August (potential impacts to drop-off/pickup, schedule, parking, and school operations, etc.).

Thank you to everyone who has demonstrated their belief in what we are building. With $12.5 million already committed, we are moving forward with confidence. With preconstruction officially underway, now is the time to help us see this vision through. Join us by pledging your support online or contacting Sara Miller at smiller@stjohnseagle.org for multiyear commitments.

Given the nature of this project and the site work needed, there will be more than a singular groundbreaking. As work progresses, we will identify several different ways for the community to celebrate this legacy project.

Empowered to Lead. Inspired to Serve. Built to Endure.

With Deep Gratitude and Great Anticipation,
The St. John's Board of Trustees

Dear St. John’s Community,

We are pleased to share an important milestone in the continued progress of the SJE Master Plan, A Place to Grow. Following a comprehensive and thoughtful evaluation process, the Board of Trustees has approved the selection of Barr and Barr as the project's construction firm.

Over the past several months, the Master Planning Committee conducted an extensive process, seeking qualified bidders through a formal RFP process by invitation. Throughout this process, the committee remained focused on identifying a partner whose capabilities, values, and collaborative approach align with St. John’s long-term vision. Barr and Barr demonstrated technical expertise, operational discipline and risk mitigation, and a clear understanding of the responsibility that comes with helping steward a project that will shape the future of our school community. Moving forward, the Board of Trustees will work with our project manager, Invision, and Barr and Barr to finalize pre-construction plans, identify a specific timeline for construction of the new campus, and address other important details with jurisdictional partners and utility providers.

This project represents a generational investment in St. John’s and will strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional academic, spiritual, and community experiences for students today and for decades to come. The fundraising momentum remains strong as we have surpassed $11.5 million in pledges and commitments. Thank you to the many donors who have made this possible. As we near the close of the 2025-’26 school year, we invite you to make a meaningful contribution to help us achieve our goal of $12.5 million by June 30. To learn more and make a gift, click here.

We will continue to provide updates as additional milestones are reached and as construction planning progresses. We are deeply grateful for the support and engagement of the St. John’s community as we take this exciting next step forward!

Warmly,
St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School Board of Trustees

Dear School Community,

I am privileged to be in a position to know just how much work has been done (much of it ‘behind the scenes’) and the many challenges overcome over the past several years to get us to this transformational point in the school’s history. The weight of this tremendous responsibility has been shouldered throughout by dedicated volunteers and supporters - many of whom know their own children will not directly benefit from the new building. They and all those who have demonstrated their support for the master plan are the epitome of what it means to ‘give back’ and a blessing to this and future generations of St. John’s families.

Our school setting is also a great gift. And a challenge. We are rooted in a vibrant, compact urban environment, which calls us to be thoughtful, creative, and intentional about how every square foot serves our mission. As we move forward with our master plan and capital campaign, I am pleased to highlight one space that I am particularly excited about as it beautifully captures this spirit: Ogie-Watkins Hall, our future multi-purpose gathering space.

Designed with flexibility at its core, this space will adapt seamlessly to the rhythms of school life. In the morning, it will be set for chapel - a place of reflection, reverence, and shared spiritual grounding. Later that same day, it will welcome students for lunch, fostering connection, conversation, and community. Integral to this space is a commercial kitchen and professional food service partnership that will significantly enhance the student experience. This investment allows us to provide high-quality, thoughtfully prepared meals, support special events with ease, and use hospitality as another expression of care for our students, faculty, and guests. Food, quite simply, brings people together - and this space is designed to do just that.

And at other times, it will serve as a performance venue, where students step onto a stage to sing, speak, act, and celebrate their talents before classmates and families. Or a gathering place for assemblies, speakers, celebrations, and shared moments that define who we are as a school.

What excites me most is not only what this space will look like, though the architect renderings are truly inspiring, but how it will feel: alive with student voices, music, prayer, laughter, and learning. In a school where space must work hard, this - the heart of our new campus - will work beautifully, embodying our values of adaptability, stewardship, and community.

I invite you to spend time with the renderings and imagine the many moments that will unfold there. This multi-purpose space is more than a building project; it is an investment in how we gather, how we nourish one another, and how we live out our mission together - every single day.

At its core, our school is aspirational. Thank you to all those who have demonstrated their support and belief in what we are building for our students and for the future of our school. The time to act is now. We have an initial fundraising goal of $12.5 million by the end of this school year. To date, we have secured $10.95 million in pledges and commitments. Pledge your support today online or contact Sara Miller at smiller@stjohnseagles.org for multiyear commitments.

Best,
Hugh

Dear St. John’s Community,

The Board of Trustees is pleased to write with a major update on the progress of ‘A Place to Grow,’ the construction of the new Grades 1-8 campus.

The Master Plan will be delivered in four distinct phases, with the goal of welcoming students into the new building in the 2028–29 school year. Each phase has been carefully sequenced to ensure continuity of learning, safety, and minimal disruption, while delivering modern facilities that meet the needs of students and families for generations to come.

Click here to see an immersive 3D virtual tour of the new campus.

Phase I: Construction of the Parking Garage
The first phase involves construction of a 5-Level Parking Garage that will also feature a shaded rooftop sports deck. Completion of the parking garage is needed to prepare the main site for construction.

Phase II: Construction of the Grades 1-8 Campus
The 90,000 square feet building will support student learning and growth through exploration and creativity, and balances academic pursuits with co-curricular activities. The new campus provides spacious classrooms to support innovative teaching and learning, a centralized student support and wellness center for academic support and personal counseling, expansion of the performing arts, state-of-the-art spaces for robotics, STEM, video production, technology integration, and so much more!

Phase III: Demolition of the Existing Grades 5-8 Building
With the exception of the gym and adjoining classrooms, the existing Plant Ave campus will be demolished to prepare for installation of an artificial grass turf field.

Phase IV: Installation of the Playing Field
Upon completion of the clearing of the existing Grades 5-8 site, the artificial grass turf field will be installed, thereby providing much needed space for athletics, play, physical education classes, and the ability for the school to host ‘home’ games.

InVision Advisors is the school's Owner's Representative. Cooper Johnson Smith Peterson (CJSP) is our architectural partner. They both hold a deep understanding of educational environments and an established working relationship with St. John’s. 

To meet our goal and completion of all phases of construction, we need the partnership of our entire community. Full support of the capital campaign moves us closer to creating this extraordinary campus.

We remain deeply grateful for your continued partnership and will provide regular updates as progress continues. Together, we are creating A Place to Grow—a campus worthy of our families and students today and tomorrow.

With Gratitude,
The Board of Trustees

Dear St. John’s Families and Community Members,

I am very pleased to report that the second and final reading of our rezoning process has been completed with a seal of approval! This allows us the opportunity to now move into the next phase of our transformative master plan project - completion of architectural drawings and general contractor selection.

After many years of hard work and determination, I am grateful to all of those who have made this possible!

We will continue to keep you updated on the progress of this transformative project as time goes on, and details will continue to be updated on this website as well.

Best,
Hugh Jebson
Head of School

Dear St. John’s Families and Community Members,

As you may by now know, last evening's meeting with Tampa City Council to seek approval for our Master Plan was a tremendous success - we received unanimous support for the development of the new campus!

Throughout my career, I've witnessed many proud moments, but none more meaningful than this. The support of the school community was on full display, with St. John’s faculty, trustees, alumni, students, administrators, and families in attendance. Our speakers were exceptional, and our students, in particular, delivered remarks that were heartfelt and inspiring.

There is one remaining step in the rezoning process to complete: a second and final City Council reading in two weeks. Following that, we will move confidently into the next phase—completion of architectural drawings and general contractor selection.

We will continue to keep you updated on the progress of this transformative project.

Best,

Hugh Jebson
Head of School

Dear St. John’s Community,

We are at a pivotal moment in the future of St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, and we need your support!

On the evening of May 8, 2025, representatives from our school will present the transformative Master Plan to the Tampa City Council for approval. This Master Plan involves the construction of a new, state-of-the-art campus on the existing Plant Street Middle Division site that will be the new home for SJE Grades 1-8. Success at this meeting is crucial, as it will allow our Board of Trustees to proceed with the next phase of the Master Plan, including the completion of architectural drawings, building permitting, and construction.

Your presence and the collective support of the school community at the meeting will make a lasting impact. We invite all current families, parish members, alumni, and those who cherish the legacy of St. John’s to stand with us on May 8th. Please spread the word, mark your calendars, and stay tuned for additional information regarding how you can help, including details of the time and location of the meeting.

Please note it is critically important that no member of our school community directly approaches any council members or other city representatives about the project before the May 8 meeting - as doing so could directly jeopardize the integrity and success of our advocacy efforts.

Together, we can secure a bright future for our school and ensure St. John’s continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, leadership, and faith in Tampa for generations to come.

Thank you for your unwavering support in shaping the future of St. John’s. We will send more detailed information regarding next steps very soon.

Sincerely,
The St. John’s Board of Trustees

Dear St. John’s Community,

We are excited to share an update on the progress of the Board of Trustees’ Master Plan—an initiative that reflects our unwavering commitment to the future of St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School.

As outlined in our last update on October 28, 2024, significant steps have been taken to advance the rezoning process. We are grateful for the continued support of two neighboring property owners, Publix and the Crosstown Authority. While discussions with the remaining property owner are ongoing, we are optimistic and fully committed to working collaboratively and constructively to address their concerns and achieve a successful resolution.

To maintain momentum, the Board of Trustees recently submitted a revised site plan to the City of Tampa. This updated plan allows the rezoning process to move forward while we continue our conversations with the remaining property owner. In response, the City has requested a new traffic study, which is already underway. We are optimistic that our rezoning request will be presented to the City Council by early summer.

We are deeply appreciative of your continued support and patience as we work through this important process. The Master Plan represents a transformative vision for our school’s future, and we are committed to keeping you informed every step of the way.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.

Respectfully,

Julie Harrington
Chair, Board of Trustees

Dear St. John’s Community,

I’m pleased to share an update on the continued progress of our Master Plan and the ongoing work happening behind the scenes to bring the vision behind the Grades 1-8 campus to life.

Over the past month, our team has been holding frequent working sessions with senior leadership, faculty, and specialists to thoughtfully refine the building's interior spaces while aligning with the most up to date financial models for the project. These conversations have focused on key learning environments such as classrooms, science labs, technology infrastructure, and kitchen/catering and dining spaces, ensuring the campus is intentionally designed to elevate our students’ growth, learning, and daily experience.

Momentum continues toward Phase I (parking garage), with select Board representatives finalizing the bidding process and moving toward General Contractor selection. In parallel, we have issued a Request for Proposals to a highly qualified group of construction management firms in preparation for Phase II (new school building). This step allows us to bring construction expertise into the design process early strengthening cost discipline, constructability, and long-term value.

Our architectural and engineering teams continue to advance the design in close coordination with school leadership and the Master Planning Committee. Simultaneously, we are working with jurisdictional partners on infrastructure, utilities, and phasing - all of which are critical to a responsible and successful project. Steady progress is being made and energized by the collaboration across our school community and professional partners.

We’re carrying strong fundraising momentum into the new year, having already raised $1.1 million this school year, bringing our total raised to $10.6 million. Our focus continues to be working toward our next critical milestone of $2.5 million pledged by this summer.

Thank you to those who have contributed to these efforts! We are grateful for your continued dedication and commitment to St. John’s. For those still looking to make a philanthropic impact, click here for more information and giving opportunities. For questions, contact Sara Miller at smiller@stjohnseagles.org, or (813) 736-3275.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement as this exciting journey moves forward.

Appreciatively,
Hugh