BRANDON, Fla. — Several construction projects at Hillsborough County schools will take place over the summer.

District officials say the work will cost more than $100 million, which will be funded by the county’s half-cent sales tax that was approved by voters in 2018.

What You Need To Know

  • Fourteen schools in Hillsborough County are getting renovations and upgrades that collectively will cost more than $100 million

  • Brandon High School's principal says they are getting several improvements, including a new media center and new bathrooms

  • District officials say all the summer projects are expected to be complete before Aug. 10, students' first day of school

There are 14 schools getting HVAC renovations, but also other upgrades that include new playgrounds, kitchens and new windows.

The 14 schools receiving HVAC renovations are:

  • Brandon High School
  • Bryan Elementary School                             
  • Burns Middle School                                    
  • East Bay High School                       
  • Fishhawk Creek Elementary School   
  • Heritage Elementary School                   
  • Jennings Middle School (Phase 2)            
  • Mendenhall Elementary School                
  • Nelson Elementary School                       
  • Roosevelt Elementary School                   
  • Seminole Elementary School                   
  • Sessums Elementary School                  
  • Shaw Elementary School                         
  • Shields Middle School    

School officials say the top two necessities school buildings needed were new air conditioning units and new roofs.

“The fact that we'll have a constant temperature going on is just going to make things more conducive to learning," said Brandon High School principal Jeremy Klein. "At the end of the day, the more conducive the environment is, the better learning and teaching that are taking place.”

Klein said the school also invested in a new parking lot, gates, football field and landscaping.

Inside improvements include new bathrooms, tables in the cafeteria and a new media center that is anticipated to be complete in the fall.

He said the new additions will be a motivator for students.

“Get the kids here, make it more aesthetically appealing," Klein said. "We have to tap into what they want to see and what they want to feel like, then we can do the right work."

The renovations have been ongoing since the half-cent referendum passed in 2018.

To date, district officials say $800 million has been spent on 100 school buildings.

All the summer projects are expected bo be complete before Aug. 10, students' first day of school.