District presents Old Kentucky Home (OKH) master-plan options and Up Center CTE expansion as multi-year effort

Nelson County school leaders and planners presented the OKH (Old Kentucky Home) master plan and possibilities for expanding the district’s Up Center (area technology center) during the Local Planning Committee meeting on April 16, 2025.

Laura Arnold, director of Next Gen Schools, framed the discussion around "launching" students into careers and postsecondary options by expanding CTE, dual credit and work-based learning. She cited a recent example: Lucas, an automotive-technology student, completed certifications and transitioned from senior year into employment with Conway Heaton after completing a program at the Up Center.

Architects and district leaders said the OKH/Up Center conversation must be understood alongside larger campus phasing at Nelson County High School. The master-plan work done in 2023 outlined a multi-phase approach: an initial phase to address high-school capacity and displacement that could span 18–24 months, followed by additional phases for older wings. Staff said a full, district-level phasing scenario could extend four to five years if major reconstruction or a new-build option was chosen; earlier estimates placed a phase-1 rebuild estimate at roughly $38 million in a phased scenario, though Ward cautioned these are planning-level numbers and that KDE uses standardized estimating.

Arnold said recent state and federal emphasis on CTE has increased new revenue opportunities, and Nelson County has already expanded CTE funding and community partnerships. She told the committee the district is bringing in more than $1.8 million in CTE and adult-education funds and that local partnerships have contributed equipment and support for programs. "If Old Kentucky Home Middle School did have possibilities for transition, we could leverage this space," Arnold said, describing potential space for adult education, community health programming (Thrive Academy) and expanded career-and-technical offerings.

Staff and committee members discussed funding mechanisms: local facility planning on the DFP can position the district to access state capital or "urgent need" funds, but those funds typically require local investment and shovel-ready plans. Committee members were reminded that Master Plan and DFP entries provide options beyond the district’s immediate bonding capacity and KDE must approve DFP entries and scope.

Committee members asked for additional clarity on transportation impacts and bus routing in several campus models, and for HR implications of different campus configurations (teacher staffing, program staffing and potential duplication or efficiencies). Transportation staff were asked to return with routing and transfer-impact analyses for each of the four campus models the LPC is considering. Members also requested feasibility work on specific CTE programs under consideration for different campuses, including heavy-equipment training and how it might be accommodated on particular sites.

Ending: District leaders characterized the OKH/Up Center options as a multi-year, phased opportunity to expand college-and-career pathways while noting that major campus reconstruction would require staged displacement and careful planning. Staff said the district’s recent gains in CTE revenue and local partnerships make expansion feasible if the LPC provides a clear direction the architect can draft into a plan.