A new pre-kindergarten through seventh grade school at the Parry McCluer High School campus is the most financially viable long-term option for Buena Vista’s school facilities, according to a feasibility report presented to city and school officials last week.
The report, prepared by Energy Systems Group (ESG), compared several scenarios, including renovating the existing middle school, building a standalone middle school, or consolidating elementary and middle grades into a single new facility.
The recommendation was clear: building a new pre-K–7 school offers the strongest long-term return on investment, driven by operational savings and reduced future maintenance needs.
According to the report, the estimated cost of a new pre-kindergarten through seventh grade facility ranges from $47 million to $67 million, depending on design choices.
A 30 percent state contribution is expected to offset a portion of the cost, with potential funding of between $14 million and $20 million. Consolidating facilities is projected to generate between $1.5 million and $2.4 million in annual operational savings.
Over a 30-year period, the net financial impact of the pre-K–7 plan ranges from a $41 million loss under the most conservative projections to a $30 million gain under the most favorable. In comparison, a middle school-only project is expected to result in longterm net losses ranging from $46 million to $4.7 million.
The projected “losses” referenced in the report don’t indicate budget overruns or deficits, but rather reflect the balance of longterm costs versus savings and revenues under different financial scenarios.
In the most conservative estimates — assuming higher construction costs and lower savings — the pre-K–7 plan would still result in a net cost of $41 million over 30 years. That figure represents the remaining gap between expenses and projected savings like state funding, operational efficiencies, property sales and tax revenue. Under more optimistic modeling, those savings and revenues outweigh the costs, producing a net financial gain of up to $30 million.
The middle school-only plan, by comparison, remains a net cost in every scenario.
The report also highlights severe deterioration at Parry McCluer Middle School, including structural issues, outdated plumbing and HVAC systems, no fire suppression or alarm system, and significant accessibility limitations.
Delaying action, the report warns, could lead to multi-milliondollar emergency repairs and force the eventual abandonment of the middle school building without solving long-term needs.
Other benefits of a consolidated school include improved student safety, reduced bussing needs, and the potential to add facilities such as a gymnasium, auditorium, and weight room that are currently lacking.
City and school officials voted to pursue hard cost estimates based on the pre-K–7 model, with the goal of preparing a referendum for voters this fall.
