The Norfolk City Council on May 20 approved an ordinance authorizing a comprehensive agreement under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act with Heartland Construction Inc. for final design and construction of a replacement Maury High School.
The ordinance was amended to add a condition that, upon completion of the new school, the existing Maury High School property will immediately revert to the city for determination of future use. Council members voted to adopt the ordinance as amended.
Council member Clanton, who spoke in favor of the agreement, said “we're finally here,” and thanked staff, the school board and Heartland Construction for their work on the proposal. Council member Doyle described the vote as a “significant milestone” and said, “It's $220,000,000,” language she used while emphasizing fiscal oversight. Council member Page urged that the same energy and equity used to secure this project be applied across the city’s other schools.
The council’s remarks emphasized two recurring points: the scale of the capital investment and the districtwide implications. Several members noted different figures during debate — one remark referenced roughly $220 million and another speaker referenced $211 million — but the ordinance before the council was adopted as amended. Supporters framed the project as necessary to provide safe, modern facilities for students who attend Maury from across Norfolk; some council members additionally urged the city to press the state for larger school-construction funding and to accelerate any school consolidation work that could free resources for other schools.
The vote was recorded in the meeting transcript with multiple council members saying “I vote aye” during the roll call. Following adoption, council members said they look forward to the project moving into design and construction and to a future groundbreaking. The added reversion clause will require the city to decide how to repurpose the existing school once the new facility opens.