Boone County unveils 2026–31 facilities plan; early‑childhood center and new middle school among priorities

The Boone County Board of Education examined a district‑wide facilities plan that lays out capital priorities through 2031 and includes an early childhood center, renovations at Connor campus and plans for a new middle school to relieve pressure in rapidly growing feeder areas.

Superintendent Dr. Housewald introduced the plan and said the district was publishing the slide deck and handouts as public records. "We are going to update the board and the community on our 2026–2031 facilities plan," he said, noting the plan fulfills a state requirement and summarizes projects anticipated over the next five years.

District consultants and staff described the Department of Education facility plan process, which was characterized as a decades‑old state program designed to promote equity and adequacy across districts. A consultant explained the DFP requires a diverse planning group and detailed facility evaluations to help set capital priorities.

Why it matters: board officials said enrollment projections and new housing developments are driving the proposals. Presenters identified Valley Shannon and Long Branch as high‑growth areas; Long Branch Elementary was described in the presentation as built for 900 students and reported at about 975 students at the end of the school year, with projections showing higher enrollment by 2030–31. The board’s planners said these enrollment trends require rethinking capacity and siting for middle and elementary grade levels.

Key projects and phasing: presenters outlined priorities in five tiers, with priority‑one projects due in the first two years and lower priorities later. They highlighted a new early childhood center (a Kroger‑area site) that has opened bids and was described in the presentation as coming in approximately $4 million under budget; Morell Construction was named as a contractor used on recent work. The consultant also proposed converting an existing middle‑school building into an elementary configuration and building a new middle school on land closer to main roads (ideally near Cooper High School) so the district can provide more green space and athletic fields than the existing campus allows. A phased timeline presented in the meeting sketched openings and renovation phases from 2027 through 2031.

Site constraints and cost drivers: the presentation included a campus study showing a large ravine regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that limits developable acreage and makes large‑scale expansion expensive. Presenters warned that some sites appearing large on maps are constrained by environmental regulation and would be costly to alter.

Board questions and follow‑up: trustees asked whether planned renovations would address recurring maintenance problems such as pests and failing doors and screens at Connor campus. Presenters said the renovation scope would include retrofitting doors, screens and other building elements to current standards. Staff also said they are working with Boone County and outside counsel to identify 20–25 acre parcels and hoped to secure land within roughly six months; county road improvements could create suitable parcels.

Fiscal and next steps: in related business the board approved a general obligation bond resolution to purchase and renovate a preschool center; presenters described the bid as coming in several million dollars below initial estimates and said the G.O. bond funding draws on existing debt capacity rather than increasing taxes. The facilities plan will be finalized after one more required meeting of the DFP committee and will be shared with the public as a record on the district website.

The plan's authors said the discussion will continue in a subsequent meeting of the facility planning process; presenters noted the DFP must be updated periodically to reflect enrollment, zoning and funding changes.