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Bates County school board signals direction to build full Lakewood Ranch high school; cost and timing remain contentious
Summary
At an Aug. 8 workshop the Bates County School Board signaled consensus to proceed with a full Lakewood Ranch high school while members debated costs, funding sources and whether to change facility standards to reduce construction expenses.
School board members in Bates County discussed a proposed new high school for the Lakewood Ranch area at an Aug. 8 workshop and signaled a consensus to move forward with a full high school plan while also airing major concerns about cost and schedule.
A resident, Kimberly Brewer, opened public comment urging the board to choose the most comprehensive option, which she described as “option 3.” “I urge you to please support option 3, and let's not cut corners when it comes to our children's future,” Brewer told the board.
Board members and staff spent several hours on enrollment projections, funding options and construction scheduling. Chair Chote opened the discussion by saying the board needed to “come out of this meeting ... give a direction to staff on how do we move forward,” and, after extended debate, several members said they supported moving ahead on the larger campus so it could open by fall 2027.
Staff and board members cited rapidly rising enrollment at nearby schools, with recent counts above May projections. Joe…
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