The Clinton County education system is looking forward to bigger and better opportunities and the start of that is beginning to unfold quickly, with a new Clinton County High School facility almost a certainty in the years ahead.
Although Superintendent Wayne Ackerman has only been on the job as schools chief for a year now, he, along with the Clinton County Board of Education and others, have helped facilitate a plan to construct what many call “critical” to improving education, that being the eventual construction of a new high school.
In the fall of 2024, the school board approved a “double-nickel” tax that will go toward constructing the facility, to replace the current building that was constructed in the early 1960s, with only a few additions added about a decade later.
Even though “taxes” is not a favorite word in people’s vocabulary for the most part, opposition to the extra taxes that will help the education of Clinton County children in the future proved to be minimal across the county.
A petition that was originally sought to bring the tax issue to a re-call vote did not get filed, and the process to begin the first steps in building a new school has already begun.
In response to the issue, Superintendent Ackerman issued a statement and also gave other information on the steps and phases that will be taken that will eventually lead to the construction of a long-awaited new school.
The superintendent’s statement is as follows:
“Exciting times are ahead as the community has stepped forward to support the children of Clinton County with the passing of the double-nickel, paving the way for a new high school in Clinton County. This new facility is essential for our students, and now our school district is set to advance with this much anticipated project. This development represents a significant step in our community’s dedication to enhancing the learning environment for our students and creating a better workplace for our staff.
“As we continue to move forward, we will actively seek feedback from staff, parents, and community stakeholders to ensure that the new school meets the needs of all those it will serve while maintaining transparency throughout the process. Everyone can stay informed with the latest updates by visiting www.clinton.kyschools.us. Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the Central Office at 606-387-6480.
“I want to express my gratitude to the Clinton County Board of Education, our dedicated staff, and our community for their unwavering support during this journey. Together, we will create a safe school that empowers our students to reach their full potential, provides an excellent working environment for our educators, and  offers our community a source of pride. Thank you for your continued support.”
Ackerman said the first step in the process was having the school board approve a request to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to reassemble the previous Local Planning Committee (LPC) for the purpose of amending the District Facility Plan (DFP).
The board also began the process to accept letters of interest for architectural and construction management services.
The aforementioned steps were approved unanimously at the January school board meeting.
The superintendent said that based on the most recent District Facility Plan, the estimated cost for the new high school will be $43 million.
There will be a bonding process to go through and an amount of overall time to repay the bonding capacity. However, it is still too early in the process to determine those rates and time frames.
Ackerman said the planning and design phase for the new facility will take roughly 16 to 18 months. Once the building process has begun, the estimated time for completion is 24 to 30 months, he said.
With the aforesaid estimated time line, completion of a new high school could be approximately four years down the road, or sometime in the year 2029.
Ackerman again reiterated that the district–due to capacity size and cost–will keep the old school gymnasium (The Castle) and the current classrooms at the existing school will be demolished.
Even though the citizens will see a brand new school, it will be approximately in the same location, only “switched,” according to current plans.
The current DFP states that the new high school will be on the current campus and built onto the left side of the high school gym (currently the parking lot). However, when the local planning committee reconvenes, they will recommend the final building site to the board of education (for final approval), the superintendent added.
Apparently keeping the new facility on the same grounds could save the district money from having to search for, or possibly purchase, property at a different location.
The current location is also centralized and close to the official city limits and other surrounding schools in the district.