Gainesville to Host Lincoln Middle School Input Sessions

Alachua County Public Schools will gather design feedback for the new K-8 campus starting November 10.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold vector editorial illustration of minimalist wooden school building blocks, representing community feedback for the new Lincoln K-8 campus design. — Alachua County Public Schools will begin community input sessions on November 10 to gather design feedback for the new $96 million Lincoln K-8 campus in Gainesville. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support the consolidation of middle and elementary schools into new K-8 campus facilities?

Alachua County Public Schools is hosting community input sessions to discuss the transformation of Lincoln Middle School into a K-8 campus. These sessions, starting November 10, will help guide the development of a project with a $96 million budget.

Why it matters

The project seeks to integrate students from Williams Elementary and Lincoln Middle School into a single, unified campus. Gathering community feedback ensures that the design process addresses the needs of the local families who will use the new school.

The school board has earmarked $96 million for the construction of the new K-8 facility. The project is led by PBK Architects and designer Chad Jones, with the campus set to occupy the existing site at 1001 SE 12th Street.

The players

Alachua County Public Schools

This is the local school district governing the public education system in Gainesville, Florida.

Lincoln Middle School

This is the middle school currently undergoing a structural transformation into a K-8 campus.

PBK Architects

This is the professional design firm selected to lead the construction and planning of the new school campus.

Chad Jones

He serves as the lead designer for the Lincoln Middle School K-8 campus renovation project.

Williams Elementary School

This elementary school will have its student body integrated into the new K-8 campus upon completion.

The details

Residents can share their design ideas during in-person meetings held at the Lincoln Middle School auditorium or through an upcoming online survey. The new institution is designed to consolidate the student populations of Lincoln Middle School and Williams Elementary School into one campus.

November 10, 2026: First community input session at 6 p.m.
December 1, 2026: Second community input session at 6 p.m.
Early 2027: Additional community input session planned.
Fall/Winter 2029: Expected completion of the K-8 campus.

Culture Shift

The transition to a K-8 model follows a widespread shift in educational architecture that prioritizes long-term student stability. This project aligns with the national K-8 school consolidation trend by minimizing school transitions for children during their formative years.

Families in the area can directly influence the new school environment by attending the input sessions or completing the upcoming online survey. Residents should look for these opportunities to express their preferences regarding the layout and features of the new K-8 campus.

The takeaway

Engaging with the school district now allows the local community to help shape the future layout of their neighborhood school. Residents should mark the November and December meeting dates on their calendars to ensure their feedback is included in the project planning.