Highland High demolition continues; district receives $34 million state modernization payment

District business staff updated trustees on demolition and site readiness work at Highland High School and confirmed the district has received the first $34 million payment from the state’s School District Modernization Fund.

Jonathan Balls, director of business and operations, told the board crews found electrical lines close to the surface that must be relocated before major site work. He said the district has performed extensive compaction testing at the site — more than 60 compaction tests to meet industry standards — and that schematic and construction drawings are progressing toward bid packages planned for January.

Balls also said the district received the first payment from the state modernization fund and placed the funds into a restricted account to be used for the Highland project. "We did receive our first payment of from this School District modernization fund — $34 million — and it is in our bank account," he told trustees.

Staff said demolition and site‑preparation activities are on schedule and the architect team is advancing construction documents, with the district aiming to issue bids in January and present cost and funding details to the board in February or March. Balls said those presentations will include estimated costs, funding sources and a timeline for the construction phase.

The board discussed coordination with contractors and the need to continue reporting compaction, moisture and structural testing results as the project advances. No formal board action was taken on project funding at the meeting; the update is part of ongoing project oversight.