Facilities committee trims Piedmont Middle construction ask, seeks $3.9 million in design funds for 2026 bond request

The Union County Public Schools Facilities Committee voted March 10 to send a revised long-range plan and 2026 construction bond request to the full board that reduces the district’s Piedmont Middle School construction ask to $3.9 million for design and preconstruction rather than the previously discussed roughly $48 million construction package.

Presenting the item, Mr. Moore said Parkwood High School remains in the 2026 construction request and is now in the design phase using funds provided by a 2024 bond. He said the committee modified the Piedmont Middle School request to seek only design and preconstruction funding so staff can return with more detailed information before asking for full construction funds. "So instead of asking for approximately 48,000,000, we're only asking for 3,900,000 for design and preconstruction," Mr. Moore said. He added the original Piedmont package had included funds to purchase adjacent land, but the current design-only request does not specifically include land acquisition funding.

Mr. Moore also listed a separate project described in the packet as a "Wolf" addition: approximately four new classrooms, roughly a 40-student addition, with an estimated cost of $5,500,000 plus contingency and construction-management funds. The packet included brief descriptions of each project and staff invited committee questions about scope and timing.

After the presentation and brief clarifying questions about land purchase and contract negotiation, the chair asked for a motion to send the revised long-range plan and bond request to the full board. The motion passed by voice vote, recorded as 4-0.

The revised bond request will be reviewed by the full board; staff indicated they would return with additional design details and cost estimates as they become available.