The Henderson County School Board approved an $18.69 million bond to help fund an HVAC overhaul at South Middle School.
Henderson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bob Lawson said the first phase of the $21.4 million project began last summer with prep work which took place in June and July.
Lawson said the second phase, which began this month, is the installation of the system. Workers will work at night and other times outside of the school day, Lawson said. The project is expected to be completed in October 2026, he said
In addition to the $18.69 million bond that Baird is putting up for sale on Dec. 18, the school district has also used $2.7 million cash from its general fund reserves to pay for the $20-plus million project, said Kelly Mrsic, of Baird.
Lawson believes the investment is a sound one. He said the building is very well-built and will continue to serve as a middle school “long after I’m here.” Also, the building is the old Henderson City High School and there’s a lot of history within the walls, he said.
“That building is worth a $20 million investment,” Lawson said. “South will be there for the long haul.”
The bond issuance that the school board approved Monday night leaves it with $30 million in bonding capacity for other projects, Mrsic said. A graph presented by Mrsic Monday night showed this bond makes eight the school district is currently paying down, with one scheduled to be paid off in 2031 and the bond approved Monday scheduled to be paid off in 2046.
The school district has taken on numerous big projects in the last several years, including what the Hendersonian reported last spring as a $25 million renovation at East Heights School in which the “pods” will be demolished and replaced with a new classroom wing.
The school district has also taken on a renovation project at Henderson County High School’s CTE wing. A current piece of that is an HCHS culinary renovation and paving, which is scheduled to get underway in December or January and be completed in August. It comes with a $1.6 million price tag.
Additionally, the school district has recently completed three wastewater treatment plants at Cairo, Spottsville and Niagara elementary schools. Those three projects cost a combined $6.94 million, the superintendent said.
Of all the work, Lawson said, “It’s a ton.” But he added HCS was getting caught up on projects that had to be done.
Lawson said after the SMS HVAC project is finished the district will probably hold off on any more big projects for a while.
In other news, the school board preliminarily approved the 2026-2027 school year calendar. The board will hear a second reading and make a final vote at its December meeting.
Highlights include:
- The first day of school for staff is Aug. 12.
- The first day of school for students is Aug. 13.
- Fall break is Oct. 5-9.
- Thanksgiving break is Nov. 25-27.
- Winter break is Dec. 21-Jan. 1.
- Spring break is April 5-9.
- Last day of school for students is May 25.
- Last day of school for staff is May 26.
