EUA and Vogel update committee on high school master plan; key decision is whether to occupy existing middle school in 2026

Consultants from EUA (Educational design firm) and Vogtle (construction/cost consultant) updated the Facility Committee on work since the board authorized them to evaluate the high school campus and an athletics master plan. The presentation summarized stakeholder interviews, school tours, program needs, four high-level option sketches, and a timeline that leads to community engagement and potential referendum consideration in November 2026.

EUA consultant Mike Schwanhammer described three core goals the team has been using: modernize the high school campus, address campus safety and security, and develop an athletics master plan. The team conducted biweekly core-team meetings, department stakeholder interviews, and site tours of comparable high schools. Staff and stakeholders repeatedly cited natural light, flexible collaborative spaces, rightsized classrooms, and consolidation or co-location of student services as priorities.

The consultants presented four high-level options: (A) minimal option that would leave the existing high school largely as-is and adapt the existing middle school for high-school use (with secure vestibule entry and systems integration); (B) heavy renovation of the existing high school while using the middle school for some functions; (C) larger addition with targeted demolition and courtyard daylighting to bring natural light into classrooms; and (D) more extensive teardown of older wings and a larger rebuild that also reconfigures community drive and athletics placement. All options included an athletics master-plan component (examples shown included additional locker/concession/storage needs and an indoor 60-yard practice area).

Consultants and staff said the committee faces an early but important decision point: if the district intends to occupy the existing middle school with high-school students on Sept. 1, 2026, the district will need to invest in items now (secure entries, interbuilding PA/clock systems, camera integration, and other upgrades) and reallocate capital/contingency funds to support that transition. If the board prefers to delay occupying the building and instead pursue larger options through a referendum, the district could conserve contingency and maintenance funds but would need to communicate that choice to the community.

Timeline and next steps: consultants will refine options and begin budget work with Vogtle; the team plans deeper budget review in spring 2025, community/staff engagement in fall 2025–spring 2026, surveys in spring 2026, board approval of a preferred scope in summer 2026 and a possible referendum in November 2026. The consultants asked the committee for feedback about which options to remove or continue to refine and requested the committee consider the board’s expectations about middle-school occupancy so the team can focus its work.