The Muhlenberg County Board of Education on the October agenda approved a contract with Ross Torrance Architects for a Long Beach Elementary School Early Childhood Center and advanced plans and budget documents for a new 16,000‑square‑foot auxiliary gym at Muhlenberg County High School.

The board approved the initial BG‑1 cost estimate for the auxiliary gym and accepted schematic design documents that show a shared lobby with the existing gym, locker rooms, storage, a mechanical mezzanine and an elevator to address existing accessibility issues. A district construction consultant said the project is currently sized at about 16,000 square feet and the construction portion of the work is tracking near $8 million; adding typical soft costs and fees brought the current total estimate to about $9.7 million.

Why it matters: the addition is intended to expand spectator and community space, provide storage and locker room capacity for athletic programs, and correct access challenges in the existing gymnasium. The schematic design shows bleachers sized for about 400 spectators and circulation that allows either gym to be locked off independently for community or after‑hours use.

Charles, a Summit representative who updated the board on district construction projects, also told the board the Muhlenberg County field house had a schedule change: “We’ve had a delay in that. It’ll be pushed until November 21 because of the roof panel manufacturers have yet to get the panels manufactured and delivered. They should be on‑site November 6.”

A consultant working on the auxiliary gym schematic described the design decisions taken to preserve rooftop louvers and equipment access on the existing gym and to add an elevator that will improve access between levels. The schematic anticipates two locker room blocks (male and female) with showers, storage rooms, a family restroom and concessions; mechanical systems will be served by a mezzanine above the locker rooms to minimize footprint.

Board members moved and seconded motions to approve the architect contract for the early childhood center and to approve the contract and planning documents for the auxiliary gym; each motion was adopted without recorded opposition.

The board packet and the consultant presentation noted a goal of advancing through design development in the next two months and targeting construction to begin after the following school year, with a construction start goal of summer 2026. The board also heard that KDE (the Kentucky Department of Education) review and LPC meetings are part of the state submittal and scheduling process for the project.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the architect contract for the Long Beach Elementary School Early Childhood Center, approved the contract for the Muhlenberg County High School auxiliary gym, approved the initial BG‑1 cost estimate for the auxiliary gym, and approved the schematic design documents; all items were approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded in the transcript.

Less critical detail: the package lists typical soft costs—architect and engineering fees, construction management, special inspections, commissioning and printing/advertising for bid—and a line described as a KDE‑required 5% contingency on construction costs. Specific funding sources for the project were discussed as part of standard BG‑1 budgeting but the transcript did not specify grant or bond sources.