VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Osteen Elementary School is getting some major help to deal with flooding problems.
The school’s property off Doyle Road has been flooded with water after storms over the past few years. Now, the county and the school board are working together to find solutions.
The big issue is that Osteen Elementary students can’t get to school after storms because of the water in the area. The school district plans to raise the sidewalks and expand the retention pond on campus.
Outside the school gates, the county will also help with these improvements.
“This school was replaced many years ago because of flooding, and so the actual school doesn’t flood. It’s strictly the road and the entrance into our campus where our walkers and bikers come in,” said school board member Ruben Colon.
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But if students can’t get to school, Colon said the system just doesn’t work. Videos show what it looked like right after Hurricane Milton last year. It looked similar after smaller storms in previous years, too. Over a foot of water covered the bus loops.
“We are responsible for holding our own water, so we’re glad the county is finally taking a look at this to see where the runoff from across the street is going,” Colon said.
Across from the school, new developments are being built.
“Definitely, the development in the area is a concern as a lot of the greenery is going away, which naturally absorbs water after a storm,” Colon added.
Volusia County and the school district recently met to create a list of fixes for the problems. While the school district expands its retention pond, the county will help elevate the sidewalks with concrete. The county is also looking to build another retention pond in the area.
This news is a relief for Osteen Elementary parents.
“The kids need to be in school, and this flooding keeps stopping them. Whatever they need to do, I’m with it,” said parent Jalila Benjamin.
A county councilman mentioned that the county already has the money in the budget for the fixes. They just need to officially approve it before work can start.
He expects that work to happen this year.