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Scout Program Management outlines timeline, traffic study and facilities for Opelika middle school and Fox Run
Summary
At a July 7 work session, Scout Program Management reviewed progress on the Fox Run project and programming for a new Opelika middle school, citing a July 2027 target for Fox Run, a roughly 250,000 sq ft three‑story middle school on 37 acres, and the need for traffic coordination with the adjacent Sportsplex.
Scout Program Management told the Opelika City Council on July 7 that construction on the Fox Run school is underway and the firm is advancing planning for a new middle school campus.
"That project is fully underway right now and is scheduled to complete, after the summer of next year," Scout representative Lamar Ziderhoek said, referring to Fox Run and adding, "So July 2027." Ziderhoek, who introduced Scout's local team, said Scout is meeting with the school system and architect Turner Batson about middle‑school programming every two weeks.
Why it matters: The middle‑school campus pictured in Scout's presentation is roughly 250,000 square feet on about 37 acres, includes athletics and a bus circulation plan, and sits across from the Sportsplex. Council members and staff flagged traffic and pedestrian crossings as key issues to resolve before construction begins in earnest.
"It's a large school," Ziderhoek said in the presentation, describing renderings that show a three‑story building with separate entries and a bus drop that will circulate around the building. He and other speakers described auxiliary features including a proposed covered practice field, a 1,500‑seat gym and a six‑lane track.
Council and staff discussed site access and traffic controls. President Allen and others said they expect a traffic study to determine whether a traffic signal is needed at the campus entrance and noted plans to add a roundabout on the support road (identified in the presentation as Anderson/Lake County Road) to keep traffic moving. Staff also described coordination with the mayor's office and the Sportsplex to manage overlapping vehicular and pedestrian patterns.
Financing and procurement: Council members clarified procurement roles and financing. Staff said construction bids will be approved by the Board of Education, while the city will handle the borrowing mechanism to obtain better debt‑service coverage; staff named Raymond James as the financial firm assisting the borrowing process and said the city will present the general obligation warrant to the council for approval when the financing is finalized.
Other projects: Ziderhoek noted Scout is also supporting interior renovations at Jeter and Morris schools and a greenhouse replacement at the high school, both scheduled to be completed in time for the school year. He said Carver is planned for renovation next year.
What comes next: Staff and Scout said they will complete the traffic study, continue programming meetings with the architect and submit the borrowing package to the council before any financing is closed. The council did not take immediate action during the work session; several items (financing, bid approvals) will return as formal items in future meetings.
