The city is planning to sell $14 million in bonds Thursday for the new high/middle school and various road improvement projects. The $14 million in general obligation bonds includes $10 million for high school construction and $4 million for roadwork. The city also is issuing $34 million in bond anticipation notes – short-term notes the city is borrowing against upcoming bonds- to provide cash flow to continue paying construction costs for the high school, Carbone said. Ground officially was broken on the $179.58 million project in October 2022. Building committee Co-Chairman Edward Arum said the state will reimburse 85% of the construction costs and the city is responsible for 15%. Initial plans for the 310,000-square-foot school, which will house students in grades 7-12, were to complete the high school portion by December 2024 and bring students in by February 2025. Middle school students are expected to be let in by September 2025. Construction, however, is ahead of schedule and plans are to open the school a month early in January 2025, Arum said.
