PCSSD construction update: master plan hearing set; Mills Arena and Robinson projects move toward turnover

Pulaski County Special School District staff gave trustees a multi‑school construction update on Sept. 9, announcing a community master‑planning meeting this winter and reporting progress at Mills Arena, Robinson High School, College Station Elementary and Harris Elementary.

Mister Johnson, who delivered the construction report, said the district has tentatively scheduled a public master‑planning meeting for Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. at the district office. The meeting, he said, is intended to collect community input on the district’s capital goals and a six‑year plan; board members were asked to submit suggested topics for the presentation by Oct. 1 so the administration can incorporate them into materials for the public hearing.

On Mills Arena, Johnson said the district planned to begin walk‑throughs on Sept. 19 to identify punch‑list items with the construction team and that the district does not expect turnover of the building until October because lockers are delayed by shipping issues. He reported the bleachers were “99% complete and operational,” epoxy flooring and gym‑floor work scheduled for Sept. 11–12, and a final fire marshal inspection planned at the end of the month before the district will occupy the building.

At Robinson High School, Johnson said a modular unit for a program had arrived the night before and installation work (electrical, alarms, low‑level connections) was underway; a tentative ribbon‑cutting date for Robinson-related work was discussed as Oct. 2, though Johnson and others said final dates remained flexible pending final inspections and work. For College Station Elementary, Johnson said designs, permitting and budgeting work were in progress; the district was pursuing city and state approvals and expected to finalize a guaranteed maximum price and put the project to bid within roughly 45–60 days, with possession tentatively expected in January 2027.

Johnson also said Harris Elementary’s roof and a replacement basketball floor work were scheduled to begin in mid‑October and should take about two weeks to complete. The administration said it would survey Sylvan Hills Elementary for potential relief options but had not completed that walk‑through at the time of the meeting.

Board members asked about inspections, insurance documentation and sequencing of funds. Johnson said the district had walked the Mills Arena project with the district’s counsel and that the counsel was comfortable with progress toward the court‑ordered checklist the district has been following for that project.