District briefs board on interim agreement with developer for new Northeast Polk high school; $6.54 million predevelopment budget cited

Polk County School Board staff told members on April 22 that the district is progressing with an interim agreement with Fortress Secured LLC to begin predevelopment work for a new high school in the county's northeast planning area.

Chief of planning/presenting staff member Michael Pitts reviewed the procurement history: the district issued an ITN in May 2024 for a new Northeast high school, received two proposals in June (Building Tomorrow Schools and Fortress Secured), and entered negotiation with the finalist firms after a best‑and‑final round. Building Tomorrow Schools later withdrew from negotiations; the district then notified Fortress Secured of its intended decision to enter an interim (predevelopment) agreement. Pitts said the comprehensive school is planned for a 63‑acre site at Bayberry Street and Dogwood Road with a prototype size roughly in the 343,490–409,000 square‑foot range and approximately 2,712 student stations.

Pitts summarized the interim agreement's predevelopment phases and costs: Phase 1 $1,697,112; Phase 2 $2,402,563; Phase 3 $1,047,260; Phase 4 $544,103; and a miscellaneous phase $850,000 — together totaling $6,541,038 for the interim agreement. He told the board the interim agreement would permit predevelopment activities identified in exhibits A and B of the draft agreement and a payment schedule for those activities.

Board members asked about the relationship between the previously filed “best and final” price and the numbers reflected in the contract, the role of district staff in predevelopment, property ownership and contingency language allowing the project to move to an alternative site if needed. Pitts and district staff said some design work and negotiation remain; they also noted the district does not currently own a high‑school site in that corridor and would work to transfer or secure property as the project advances. Staff and the developer will perform site due diligence, including geotechnical and environmental studies, before any final property acquisition.

Ending: Pitts asked the board to consider the interim agreement for approval at the board’s regular meeting; no formal vote occurred during the work session.