Harper Creek discusses 2026 bond planning, facilities upgrades and enrollment gains

Administrators told the Harper Creek Board of Education on Nov. 10 that facilities work and a potential 2026 bond remain priorities, and that preliminary enrollment figures have improved district revenue projections.

Facilities director Mister Robinson updated the board on the high‑school weight room renovation: new flooring, new lifting racks and equipment with Harper Creek logos, and fundraising that had nearly closed a funding gap he described as roughly $20,000. Old equipment has been sold to a buyer in Athens and the district expects to take delivery of new items when funding and procurement steps are complete.

Superintendent Rob Ridgeway reviewed community outreach for a possible 2026 bond. He said turnout for early Community Connections meetings varied and that the district will issue a survey to gather broader input; a bond steering committee will meet in December to compile priorities. Ridgeway and board members encouraged creating recorded walkthroughs showing how spaces changed since the last bond to make the need clear to voters.

On enrollment, administrators reported a current student headcount of 2,791, a blended FTE of 2,749.23 and a net 32 FTE increase over budget assumptions. Ridgeway said the additional FTE translates into roughly $357,000 more in state foundation revenue for the current budget than previously projected.

Next steps: the bond steering committee will meet in December, administration will publish the community survey and continue outreach, and facilities staff will return high‑cost procurements to the board for approval.