District gives progress update on Up Center, bus garage and school additions; timelines extend into 2026-2028

Nelson County Schools provided a facilities update at the board meeting that outlined construction activity on five major projects and preliminary timelines for upcoming phases.

Facilities staff reported that the Up Center and the new bus garage are under active construction; crews are working to enclose both buildings so interior work can proceed through winter months. The district said the two projects are moving quickly and that roofing and masonry work are under way.

“Timeline on these projects are looking like 2026 with the bus garage hopefully early spring, and then we're targeting summer for Up Center completion,” a district facilities presenter said. Board members heard additional drawings and on-site photos showing steel framing and interior demolition progress.

The board also was briefed on the Thomas Nelson middle-school addition: construction bids have been accepted, mobilization was expected to start in November, and the district is targeting completion in 2027. For Nelson County High School, architects are conducting phase-1 design work; district staff said they anticipate construction completing in 2028. New Haven work is in design review; the district said architects and school leaders are finalizing scope and priorities.

District staff described project goals including improved program flow, revised drop-off patterns at New Haven, and remediation for an underground pipe that previously caused foundation issues. The presentations emphasized coordination with school administrators and the need to align project scope with budget constraints.

No formal board vote was required on these status updates; staff said they would continue to report milestones and that public ceremonies are planned for upcoming groundbreaking events.