The USD 251 North Lyon County Board of Education has a special meeting ahead Tuesday as work continues on a major shift in facilities for the district.
The special meeting follows a significant step towards a new high school building as part of the board’s regular meeting Wednesday. Superintendent Bob Blair says the presentation by the district’s Strategic Planning Committee to build a new high school in Americus represents 3 years of research and discussion on this push to bring new facilities to USD 251.
That led the Planning Committee to recommend the new high school in Americus immediately south of North Lyon County Elementary/Junior High.
Board action is pending and is possible at the July 8 meeting.
The Strategic Planning Committee has been researching 3 different options: significant renovations to Northern Heights, a new high school near NLC Elementary/Junior High or a new K-12 campus near the district’s population center:
*Option 1, renovations at Northern Heights, would cost an estimated $31 million, with about two-thirds of the funding going towards renovations. Upgrades at NLC Elementary and the athletic complex would also be included.
*Option 2, the new high school near NLC, would lead to a nearly $33 million overall cost, with nearly $27 million earmarked for the high school and renovations at the existing elementary and junior high.
*Option 3, a new K-12 campus, would cost more than $56 million – over $48 million for the school building and over $8 million for the athletic complex.
Balir tells KVOE News the district has been doing what it can to both bring a workable plan to district patrons and avoid the fractious nature of conversations that unfolded during 3 separate bond proposals about a decade ago.
Board members also approved Piper Sandler as the project’s bond manager during Wednesday’s meeting.
The special meeting begins at 6 pm at the board office in Americus. The agenda has potential action on a bond and real estate as part of separate discussion items. There will be an executive session ahead of the real estate decision.
Meanwhile, Blair says there are several other steps ahead before the board reconvenes next month.
Exactly what would happen to the Northern Heights property, built in the 1950s, has not been finalized. The name of any new high school is pending.
