STARKVILLE — The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District has postponed a facilities study intended to assess the need for a new high school in order to prioritize other updates to facilities in the district.
The district announced plans for a feasibility study assessing facility needs in July, but since then the study has been postponed until the district is more prepared, according to SOCSD Communications Director Haley Montgomery.
“We have the authorization for the ($87 million),” Montgomery said. “Those bonds have not been issued. Only $1 million has been issued, and we have that money saved so that we can access it and use it when we get to a point where we’re ready to seriously step forward into a new project.”
The SOCSD Board of Trustees originally approved the resolution of intent to borrow up to $87 million in bonds dedicated to facilities in June and later issued $1 million of that total to fund a facilities study to assess necessary updates and the possibility of building a new high school.
The district has conducted its own internal evaluation of facilities to determine key needs that require updates, Montgomery said.
Using both district funds and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, the district is tackling several construction and renovation projects including adding new paint and lighting in Starkville High School and updating locker rooms in the athletic facilities on the same campus.
New assessment and new high school?
Montgomery said the district has moved past the end of its current strategic plan that included updating facilities.
“Our board is looking at, in the late spring to early summer, updating that plan with sort of a new five year approach,” she said. “Our next steps in terms of facilities are going to flow out of that strategic plan.”
One major consideration of the facilities study, which was originally slated to be finished this year, was assessing the need for a new high school, Superintendent Tony McGee told The Dispatch in July.
The current high school serves about 1,400 students in grades 9-12. With the original portions of the Starkville High School campus being more than 40 years old, Montgomery said there are several factors that must be considered to be sure students are well accommodated.
“Do we want to accommodate all four grades there? Does it need to be fewer? Whether the current facility can serve us best—or if a new facility or whole renovation would be good,” Montgomery said. “There’s nothing specific that’s been determined, but that’s what some of the discussion is, kind of determining what’s the best approach for moving forward with that.”
For now, Montgomery said the primary concern is finishing up the projects the district has committed to through ESSER and district funds.
“Making sure we have (the district) at the place where we want it to be and then be able to bring the strategic process kind of up to speed,” Montgomery said. “Then we’re able to determine kind of the next step and be able to then work with some professionals to make sure that we’re having the most efficient use of our facilities and our funds at the same time.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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