Stillwater board approves demolition recommendation for existing high school; committee to plan ninth-grade integration

The Stillwater Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the Long Range Facility Planning Executive Committee's recommendation to demolish the existing academic portion of Stillwater High School and to reconvene the committee to develop a plan for integrating ninth-grade students onto the new high school campus after it opens.

The recommendation was presented by facilities staff and reviewed by the committee, which analyzed four scenarios: mothballing the building, razing it, limited deferred maintenance, and full renovation. After reviewing cost estimates and practicality, the executive committee recommended demolition of the instructional building while retaining the field house and the performing arts center (PAC). The board approved the recommendation in a roll-call vote; Douglas, Dylan, Riley, Washington and Baker voted yes.

Why it matters: committee members and district leaders said…