One of the topics surfacing in the discussion about a possible new Junction City High School building would revolve around whether a building to serve three classes…sophomore through senior classes…is needed or a facility to serve four classes freshmen through seniors.

That will be one of many issues and topics for a Steering Committee to consider as they offer community input and eventually a recommendation to the Board of Education. A future course of action could range from a new facility to renovation of the current building. The steering committee of about 50 people begins a series of meetings on October 13.

JC Post sampled Board of Education sentiment. Member Brian Field feels the three year vs. four year facility is something that will have to be looked at. Board member Dr. Ferrell Miller said originally district officials had talked about doing a tenth-eleventh-twelfth building. “Now we’re rethinking that, getting input from the staff, and might be better if we went nine through twelve.”

Bill Clark,  the Director of Business Operations for USD 475, noted to build a facility to serve four grades would increase the size of the building, so different size options and cost would have to be reviewed. “The committee will do that. The committee will take a look at Option A will cost x amount to do that, you’ll need this type of funding, Option B and so forth, and then make a recommendation to the Board.”

Two architecture firms had estimated the cost of a new 300,000 square foot high school serving three grades at about $85 million. But the addition of  the ninth grade students would require another 45,000 square feet with a rough cost estimate of about $10 million more.

A goal of Board and staff members has been to look at building a new high school without increasing property tax levy, by using a combination of heavily impacted military aid and state funding.

No final decisions have been made at this point. It is just the beginning of a discussion and planning process.