Board weighs sponsorships, naming rights and fundraising catalog as campus projects advance

Administrators presented a multi-part update Feb. 23 on the district’s campus master plan and recommended creating a public catalog of sponsorship and naming opportunities to broaden fundraising options for programs and capital needs.

The board heard construction and budget updates for the new elementary school: administration reported that the board’s previously approved GMP (guaranteed maximum price) not‑to‑exceed $56,400,000 remains the cap, but subsequent bid packages came in lower than early estimates. "Those bids have come in at a total of $47,700,000," an administrator said, and the administration summarized the expected combined total near $52,200,000 — roughly $4 million under earlier expectations. Construction activity on the site has begun, fencing and a service drive were installed and the district planned a 10 a.m. groundbreaking with students and community partners.

Administrators also reviewed other phase‑1 items and two open alternates: an HVAC vendor choice that could produce an approximate $300,000 difference and a solar‑shingle alternate priced in the transcript discussion at roughly $250,000 (good), $500,000 (better) and $1,000,000 (best) depending on roof area. The Tech Hub renovation is out to bid with returns expected March 6 and a projected start date of June 1; administrators said they expect possession (if all goes perfectly) around Thanksgiving and that the hub will be out of service through the first semester of the 2026‑27 year.

Separately, administration proposed a "catalog" or brochure that would list a range of ways community members could support the district: program sponsorships (author visits, robotics, music instrument loans), student‑wellness or inclusion programming, advertising on specific assets (scoreboards, program books), and lease‑term naming of capital assets (for example, leasing infield turf for 10–15 years as an alternative to a permanent naming). Staff used examples and estimated costs to start the discussion — a gym for the new elementary school was listed at about $2.77 million, a scoreboard at roughly $30,000, and infield turf in the range of $1 million — and suggested tiered recognition levels to keep the program inclusive.

Board members broadly supported exploring a catalog but asked for guardrails and suggested pilot projects, clearer thresholds for when a proposal must return to the board for approval, and a continued partnership with the New Albany Community Foundation and other local nonprofits. One trustee said the goal is not to replace permanent public funding but to provide options that could reduce pressure on taxpayers for some discretionary or enhancement items.

The board also accepted an $86,000 donation from Amazon Web Services to support maker/"Think Big" learning spaces; that donation was included among superintendent items approved during the meeting.

Next steps: administrators will refine the sponsorship/catalog brochure, return recommended guidelines to the board, and expect some lease or funding items (including a potential athletic campus lease with the city) to be discussed again in March.