Planning for our community's bright future requires everyone's input and support.
Our inclusive process has been designed to elicit input from all stakeholders—including you.
Our inclusive process has been designed to elicit input from all stakeholders—including you.
Planning Structure
Click here to view the current planning structure.
Click here to view the original planning structure developed in Fall 2019.
Click here to view the original planning structure developed in Fall 2019.
FAQ
The questions and answers below are from 2019 and were submitted either through community forums or to leadership team members.
How do you explain to people who voted "no," why this school project is moving forward?
The predominant feedback that the board of education has received from individuals who did not support the nickel tax was that the no vote was NOT a vote against a new school but a vote against the effects of the proposed tax increase. The board of education continues to express that kids deserve a place to learn that is clean, safe, and matches the needs of the learner today and into the future. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Do we build an incomplete building?
Phasing exists with the idea of building complete sections of the building and leaving off items such as an auditorium, competition gym, and athletic facilities in the first phase. The options the board of education has looked at for phase one are a complete academic building. Building in phases is designing so that additions can be made easily. For example Huntertown has the ability for an additional phase for 4 more classrooms, but that reality has not happened yet. Phasing at the new high school would be done after designing a comprehensive high school campus and then determining what can be afforded in the initial phase. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Can a school district accept private donations through a mechanism like crowdfunding, if that would accelerate the process?
Yes. A school district is able to accept private donations. The board of education is planning to set up a committee to review the opportunities for private funding including naming rights for parts of the new high school such as the auditorium and competition gym having names sponsors (i.e. “John Doe Performing Arts Center”). (Question and answer dated 2019.)
What is the cost for a competition gym vs auxiliary gym?
Based on assumptions that an auxiliary gym and associated support spaces are approximately 8,000 to 10,000 sf in size and based on a range of construction cost of between $205/square foot and $225 /SF, the construction cost could range anywhere between $1.64 million and $2.25 million. A competition gymnasium that seats approximately 1,800 with associated support spaces would be anywhere from 20,000 sf to 25,000 sf in size. Based on the same construction cost range above, that would equate to $4.1 million to $5.625 million. The final cost will be largely be determined by the system, finishes and equipment selected later on in the design. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Cost for an auditorium?
Based on seating for 400 to 500, the size of an auditorium would be from 8,000 sf to 9,000 sf and again based on an estimated construction cost between $205 and $225 / sf, that would equate to $1.64 million to $2.025 million. Similar to above, the final cost would largely be dependent on systems as well as finish selections. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Was a 2nd phase for the middle school auditorium?
There are no official documents that have been located that list or show an auditorium as a “second phase” for the current middle school. People have communicated that there were discussions of this when the middle school was built so the answer to this is truly dependent on the term “second phase.” The phasing being discussed for the high school is designing a comprehensive campus then determining what can/should be built in phase one and what needs to be budgeted for later building. There is no design for a middle school that includes an auditorium so the “second phase” of a middle school versus the planned and designed phasing that is being discussed for the new high school. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Would it be better to let emotions calm down after the tax vote?
While this is an understandable position, the reality the board is facing that has lead to the board’s decision to move forward now is that the district currently has 38 million in bonding potential at a time when interest rates are low and building costs are rapidly increasing. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Are any of the top 11 schools in the state phased construction (US News and World Report stats)?
This is a complex question, as much is determined by the term “phasing.” Nearly all schools must be phased, to some degree, as you are unable to build a comprehensive high school all in one single phase regardless of finances or location. The assumption of the question here is if any of the top 11 schools were moved into before the comprehensive campus was complete? This is still being investigated as this is not open information. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Could this board require a timeline (example of 10 years) that would force future boards to act?
A board of education is unable to obligate another board outside of the restriction of funds. An example of a restriction of funds would have been the passing of the nickel tax, which would have restricted the funds for building. The board of education, in 2018, did vote to restrict funds from the general fund for building and these funds are restricted for building into the future. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Was the concession stand and exterior restrooms a phase on the middle school project?
There are no plans that indicate a designed planned for restrooms and a concession stand. This remains an unmet need in the district but there are no formal “phasing” plans that include these ideas in the original construction of the middle school. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
What would be done with the old high school?
There are numerous options for the current high school should a new high school should be built, but the reality of that space, without the nickel tax, is that funding to repurpose the current high school is not available as all funding will be used to construct the new Woodford County High School. The original plans, if the community had passed the nickel tax, for the current high school included moving the central office to the current high school, Safe Harbor Academy, community education, and possibly the future creation of an early learning center. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Are we going to build a school that is master planned?
Yes. The first step in the current process is to design a comprehensive high school campus. This includes a full building that falls within the allowable square footage per the Kentucky Department of Education, and athletic facilities. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
How long would it take to build a whole school?
For a school of this size and based on a clean site, anywhere from 18 to 24 months would be a reasonable amount of time to complete the construction. Once a Construction Manager is selected, they will be able to make a more accurate schedule estimate of the construction timetable. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
KDE guidelines have changed exponentially since the school was built?
KDE guidelines that are currently in use date back to 2009. Woodford County High School was originally built in 1963, so any guidelines in effect at that time have changed dramatically in the ensuing 56 years. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Why would we not just build an auditorium and an ATC?
The board of education will have the option to determine what they can build and when based upon need and funding realities. The current focus of the board has been ensuring students have academic spaces that are safe and match the needs of learners today. Further, the building of an auditorium and/or ATC prior to having the academic space in the new location would result in the majority of the students without access to the spaces and thus they would go under utilized. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
The predominant feedback that the board of education has received from individuals who did not support the nickel tax was that the no vote was NOT a vote against a new school but a vote against the effects of the proposed tax increase. The board of education continues to express that kids deserve a place to learn that is clean, safe, and matches the needs of the learner today and into the future. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Do we build an incomplete building?
Phasing exists with the idea of building complete sections of the building and leaving off items such as an auditorium, competition gym, and athletic facilities in the first phase. The options the board of education has looked at for phase one are a complete academic building. Building in phases is designing so that additions can be made easily. For example Huntertown has the ability for an additional phase for 4 more classrooms, but that reality has not happened yet. Phasing at the new high school would be done after designing a comprehensive high school campus and then determining what can be afforded in the initial phase. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Can a school district accept private donations through a mechanism like crowdfunding, if that would accelerate the process?
Yes. A school district is able to accept private donations. The board of education is planning to set up a committee to review the opportunities for private funding including naming rights for parts of the new high school such as the auditorium and competition gym having names sponsors (i.e. “John Doe Performing Arts Center”). (Question and answer dated 2019.)
What is the cost for a competition gym vs auxiliary gym?
Based on assumptions that an auxiliary gym and associated support spaces are approximately 8,000 to 10,000 sf in size and based on a range of construction cost of between $205/square foot and $225 /SF, the construction cost could range anywhere between $1.64 million and $2.25 million. A competition gymnasium that seats approximately 1,800 with associated support spaces would be anywhere from 20,000 sf to 25,000 sf in size. Based on the same construction cost range above, that would equate to $4.1 million to $5.625 million. The final cost will be largely be determined by the system, finishes and equipment selected later on in the design. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Cost for an auditorium?
Based on seating for 400 to 500, the size of an auditorium would be from 8,000 sf to 9,000 sf and again based on an estimated construction cost between $205 and $225 / sf, that would equate to $1.64 million to $2.025 million. Similar to above, the final cost would largely be dependent on systems as well as finish selections. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Was a 2nd phase for the middle school auditorium?
There are no official documents that have been located that list or show an auditorium as a “second phase” for the current middle school. People have communicated that there were discussions of this when the middle school was built so the answer to this is truly dependent on the term “second phase.” The phasing being discussed for the high school is designing a comprehensive campus then determining what can/should be built in phase one and what needs to be budgeted for later building. There is no design for a middle school that includes an auditorium so the “second phase” of a middle school versus the planned and designed phasing that is being discussed for the new high school. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Would it be better to let emotions calm down after the tax vote?
While this is an understandable position, the reality the board is facing that has lead to the board’s decision to move forward now is that the district currently has 38 million in bonding potential at a time when interest rates are low and building costs are rapidly increasing. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Are any of the top 11 schools in the state phased construction (US News and World Report stats)?
This is a complex question, as much is determined by the term “phasing.” Nearly all schools must be phased, to some degree, as you are unable to build a comprehensive high school all in one single phase regardless of finances or location. The assumption of the question here is if any of the top 11 schools were moved into before the comprehensive campus was complete? This is still being investigated as this is not open information. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Could this board require a timeline (example of 10 years) that would force future boards to act?
A board of education is unable to obligate another board outside of the restriction of funds. An example of a restriction of funds would have been the passing of the nickel tax, which would have restricted the funds for building. The board of education, in 2018, did vote to restrict funds from the general fund for building and these funds are restricted for building into the future. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Was the concession stand and exterior restrooms a phase on the middle school project?
There are no plans that indicate a designed planned for restrooms and a concession stand. This remains an unmet need in the district but there are no formal “phasing” plans that include these ideas in the original construction of the middle school. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
What would be done with the old high school?
There are numerous options for the current high school should a new high school should be built, but the reality of that space, without the nickel tax, is that funding to repurpose the current high school is not available as all funding will be used to construct the new Woodford County High School. The original plans, if the community had passed the nickel tax, for the current high school included moving the central office to the current high school, Safe Harbor Academy, community education, and possibly the future creation of an early learning center. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Are we going to build a school that is master planned?
Yes. The first step in the current process is to design a comprehensive high school campus. This includes a full building that falls within the allowable square footage per the Kentucky Department of Education, and athletic facilities. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
How long would it take to build a whole school?
For a school of this size and based on a clean site, anywhere from 18 to 24 months would be a reasonable amount of time to complete the construction. Once a Construction Manager is selected, they will be able to make a more accurate schedule estimate of the construction timetable. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
KDE guidelines have changed exponentially since the school was built?
KDE guidelines that are currently in use date back to 2009. Woodford County High School was originally built in 1963, so any guidelines in effect at that time have changed dramatically in the ensuing 56 years. (Question and answer dated 2019.)
Why would we not just build an auditorium and an ATC?
The board of education will have the option to determine what they can build and when based upon need and funding realities. The current focus of the board has been ensuring students have academic spaces that are safe and match the needs of learners today. Further, the building of an auditorium and/or ATC prior to having the academic space in the new location would result in the majority of the students without access to the spaces and thus they would go under utilized. (Question and answer dated 2019.)