School asks state for $21 million building as costs climb

What happened

For its 2027-28 state budget request, the school listed $2.6 million to resurface campus roads and sidewalks as its top priority and about $21 million for a building that would hold its science, agriculture and culinary labs. Staff said the building's estimate started at $15 million and has grown about 30% a year. Bids for the planned meat lab also came in far above what the school had planned, and staff were cutting the design.

Why it matters to families

The school depends on the state for building money. Rising costs may delay new labs and the meat processing lab that are central to its agriculture program.

The evidence

September 11, 2026 recording: the director walks through the priority list ('campus roads resurfacing... we're asking for 2.6'; '21 million y'all... building costs are high') and the facilities director says the meat lab estimate 'was a kick in the gut' and the building 'started out at 15 million and we've added about 30% every year.' Based on auto-generated captions of the official recording.

The source