The RCMA Mulberry Community Academy recently hosted Florida State Representative Melony Bell for an exciting check presentation ceremony in support of the academy’s ambitious growth plans. Representative Bell, along with State Senator Ben Albritton, played a pivotal role in securing a $350,000 legislative appropriation through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. These funds are earmarked for a vital water treatment system, a crucial step in the ongoing development of a state-of-the-art K-8th grade facility on RCMA’s Mulberry campus.
This meaningful investment will help RCMA overcome critical infrastructure challenges at the Mulberry Community Academy. The funds are targeted specifically for the water treatment system that is necessary to meet land and environmental code requirements, making it possible for RCMA to transition from its current portable classrooms to a permanent school building that will one day serve nearly 300 children in the Mulberry community.
The event was more than just a formal presentation. After the check ceremony, Representative Bell and several honored guests took a tour of the Mulberry Community Academy, exploring its facilities and experiencing firsthand the impact RCMA has on the lives of children and families in Polk County. Representative Bell and the visiting guests then joined the academy’s students for some Halloween fun, helping them paint pumpkins and bringing joy and creativity to the children in celebration of the fall season.
This appropriation reinforces RCMA’s mission to build stronger educational foundations for children in agricultural and rural communities across Florida. As the state’s largest nonprofit provider of early childhood education and a nationally recognized charter school operator, RCMA supports thousands of families each year, empowering students to achieve their fullest potential and thrive in school and beyond.
With plans to open a fully completed facility by 2026, RCMA looks forward to providing generations of students in this community with the resources, support, and educational opportunities they need to succeed.
As RCMA’s third academy, the school showcases the organization’s unwavering dedication to serving the children of low-income families, especially in agricultural communities where resources can be scarce. Through the generous support of state leaders and ongoing fundraising efforts, RCMA is on track to expand the reach of its mission even further, offering exceptional educational programs that help children thrive.
We are so grateful to Representative Melony Bell, Senator Ben Albritton, and all who contributed thus far to this essential funding. As the RCMA Mulberry Community Academy moves forward with its vision, it’s clear that a bright future awaits the children and families it serves.
