Mercer County schools review $12–15 million stadium plan; board approves RFPs for architect and construction manager

The Mercer County Board of Education discussed a proposal to build a permanent athletic stadium and supporting facilities on the high school campus and approved releasing letters of interest and requests for proposals for a construction manager and an architect, subject to review by the board attorney.

Board members spent more than an hour on the plan, which a presenter described as completing a master plan that dates to 2006 and as the “final phase” of school campus construction. The design shown to the board would add a turf stadium field and track, restrooms and concessions, locker and weight rooms facing the high school, paved parking, and six to eight new tennis courts on roughly 10 acres of the campus. The presenter said the project would allow the district to host marching band competitions and regional athletic events that it cannot host now because of facility limitations.

Why it matters: the presenter told the board the initiative could be funded using restricted school funds under state legislation adopted in 2022 and extended through June…