Humboldt City Schools hears proposal to renovate former junior high into high‑performance soccer training center

Representatives of a for‑profit soccer organization outlined plans to renovate Humboldt City Schools’ former junior high into a “high‑performance” training center and said they will present a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to the board for approval in a future meeting.

The presenter said the group would fund the work privately, renovate locker rooms and indoor space, install two FIFA‑sanctioned fields and equip the site with sports‑science and media tools that students could access during the school day. “All of this is privately funded,” the presenter said. He described the plan as a long‑term investment — “we're looking at 15 years, 20 years down the line” — and said the organization would operate the facility while giving students day‑time access for training, work‑based learning and career pathways tied to the district’s CTE (career and technical education) program.

Why it matters: the plan would place privately financed training infrastructure on district property and include student access to athletic‑training, sports‑medicine and media‑technology programs. Board members asked about facility control, fencing, security and who would have access outside school hours; the presenters said the district would retain ownership, the MOU would define terms (including duration), and the group would provide on‑site staff, equipment managers and independent security.

Details provided at the meeting included an estimate of roughly 150 players tied to the organization’s West Tennessee operations and an organization‑wide community of about 250 players and adults. The presenters said the group has hired a professional coach, named Daniel Ferreira, and is pursuing both semi‑professional teams and a professional team for 2026. The presenters also said the club hopes to provide scholarships — the presentation referenced “maybe half a million dollars worth of scholarships” for youth players — and to use GPS tracking, AI cameras and other sports‑science tools in training.

Board members asked whether other local clubs (for example, South Gibson) would be able to use the facility; presenters said the facility would be centered on the Humboldt–organization partnership and that specific outside‑use agreements would be addressed in the MOU. Board members also raised concerns about vandalism and security, asking how much of the site would be fenced and how the district would protect new fields and equipment. The presenters responded that they planned independent security and staff to oversee operations, and suggested substantial branding and site improvements to encourage neighborhood investment and use.

Timing and next steps: presenters said they will work with the district’s lawyer, referenced as Chuck, to draft an MOU; the board will be asked to approve that MOU before any long‑term agreement takes effect. Presenters described themselves as able to move quickly and said the organization has allocated private funds for the project. The board and district staff said they planned follow‑up meetings; one board member and district staff indicated they would meet with the presenters to review the draft MOU before it returns to the board.

The board did not take a vote on the partnership during the meeting.

The presentation also noted that the organization intends to offer student opportunities beyond soccer — including sports‑medicine shadowing and credentials through the district’s CTE program — and that daytime student access would be part of the partnership terms described in the forthcoming MOU.