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Brighton board hears $19.5 million phase 1 at BHS; district says nearly $120 million invested since 2017
Summary
Designers and district officials reviewed phase 1 and phase 2 work at Brighton High School — including a new elevator, music and tech-suite renovations, turf athletic fields and a secure Door 20 — with phase 1 ($19.5M) slated for bid in early January and construction starting next summer.
Design consultants and district staff described planned renovations at Brighton High School on Dec. 17, saying phase 1 of the voter-approved capital-improvement program will go to bid in early January and that construction could begin next summer.
“We're gonna complete close to a $120,000,000 of capital improvements to our schools with less than a 2% impact from the local property taxes,” said Lou, the district presenter, describing the districtwide program launched in 2017 and funded through a combination of reserves and voter-approved capital work. Phase 1, Lou said, carries an estimated $19,500,000 price tag and will be bid in January with contract approvals expected in February–March.
SEI Design principal David Hallmark told the board the phase-1 package focuses on modernization and accessibility: boiler-room upgrades, a new elevator connecting to the building’s upper floor, and renovations to adjacent classrooms. “Almost everything in that room is at the end of its useful life, outdated and oversized,” Hallmark said of the boiler room, adding that new, more efficient equipment should reduce energy use and improve reliability.
Hallmark also outlined work in the music and technology suites and a significantly expanded shop area that would allow more students to use the space safely. The design includes a secure entry at Door 20 that will funnel student arrivals away from the bus loop and improve attendance tracking and security during the school day.
The district plans multi-use turf fields for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey to reduce weather cancellations and decrease busing to Buckland Park. The district purchased adjacent land from a church and is designing a shared access drive; Hallmark said the plans assume a future traffic signal and a pedestrian 'HAWK' crossing if county approval is secured.
Dr. Tom Paul, speaking about operational impact, said the secure Door 20 and elevator will help the attendance office and security staff know students’ locations more precisely, especially with the school’s open-campus flow. He also noted programmatic additions such as a renovated bookstore/coffee shop and prospective library display improvements that would follow the initial construction.
Timing remains contingent on state review for phase 2; the district expects to submit designs to the State Education Department (SED) and estimates a six- to eight-month review window before bidding can begin for that phase, placing a likely start in 2026.
District leaders also said they transferred $1,000,000 into the capital fund to reduce debt and possibly help fund pedestrian equipment and signal work, while cautioning that the county would determine final placement and any intermunicipal cost-sharing agreements.
