Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) proudly announced the award of a significant Department of Defense grant to rebuild and expand Tinker PreK-8 School that serves the students of military service members stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The $86 million grant will provide needed funding to improve the school’s campus, expand its capacity and enhance the learning experience for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students.

“I am grateful to the military families, leadership at MacDill, Hillsborough County Public Schools and local advocates for working with me over the years to ensure that the Department of Defense (DoD) invests in students at MacDill. We envision that the new Tinker PreK-8 School will provide students with a state-of-the-art learning environment that gives children the high-quality education they deserve in a safe and modern environment.

“Our service members and their families deserve access to high-quality, reliable child care and schools, and their kids deserve to learn in a safe and healthy environment. Unfortunately, in its current state, Tinker has challenges.

“This transformative grant is the product of over a decade of work. In 2011, Tinker was ranked 118th out of 156 schools on DoD’s priority funding list. However, through persistent advocacy and funding increases secured over time in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Tinker moved up to 60th on the list by 2018. Our continued efforts over the years culminated in a successful effort in 2022 to include Tinker among the top 12 schools invited to participate in the Department of Defense’s Public Schools on Military Bases Installations initiative."

Hillsborough County Public Schools will oversee the project and ensure that the school meets the highest standards for safety, accessibility and learning.

“This grant is a game-changer for Tinker PreK-8 and the military families we proudly serve,” said Van Ayres, Superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools. “It reflects our unwavering commitment to providing every child with a world-class education, and we are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Castor, the Department of Defense, and the leadership at MacDill for their partnership and dedication to our students. The new campus will not only enhance learning opportunities but also strengthen the connection between our schools and the brave men and women who serve our country.”

“This outstanding OLDCC grant for necessary Tinker School facility upgrades will significantly improve the educational experience for the children of our service members stationed at MacDill AFB. The Tampa Bay Defense Alliance appreciates Rep. Castor, the Hillsborough County Schools, and the entire Tampa Bay community for the years of support that led to the award of this transformative grant. The enhancements to Tinker will be another incredible example of Tampa Bay’s commitment to the service members and their families who call Tampa Bay home,” said Tampa Bay Defense Alliance.