St. Joseph board reviews $150 million high school plan; members debate performing-arts center and tax scenarios

Dr. Edgar, a staff member, opened the meeting’s discussion of the district’s “one-range plan” by telling the board that DLR and Nabholz would present a site, building program and financing options for a new high school and that “we will have to, finalize the ballot language on the 27th and that will have to be approved by the Board of Education that night so we can get it to the county clerk's office on Tuesday 28th.”

The presentation showed a test-fit layout, program reductions and a finance plan intended to deliver a new high school within a $150 million target. Kevin, a DLR representative, said the team reduced overall square footage to about 237,700 square feet and reallocated some program areas to bring the estimated all-in project cost down to about $150.6 million.

The architects presented a site split by a creek, with most circulation and main athletic facilities concentrated on the south side. The plan includes a turf competition field with lighting and a primary grandstand for home spectators and a visitor bleacher; a second turf competition field with lighting; a grass practice field; a clustered track-and-field area; six competition tennis courts (lighting excluded in base scope); and a baseball/softball complex north of the creek with separate parking. Kevin said the main…