Kenton County Schools approved plans to develop design documents for a slew of renovations at four of the district’s elementary schools – White’s Tower, Piner, Kenton and Ryland Heights – this week for a combined total estimated cost of roughly $36.3 million.
The Board of Education voted to approve work for all of the schools at their meeting Monday night.
All of the projects aim to remedy facility problems identified in the district’s 2023-2027 facility plan, which assessed the physical condition of each building in the district. Designs for each of the renovations will eventually be furnished by architectural firm Emboss Design – who also furnished the designs for the road improvements and renovations to R.C. Hinsdale Elementary, a separate project with estimated costs of roughly $26.4 million – and CMT Engineers.
“Over the next three years, we’re going to get virtually every item on our facility plan,” said Superintendent Henry Webb.
The work at White’s Tower, Kenton and Ryland Heights will focus on HVAC upgrades, a roof replacement and various other renovations to both the interior and exterior of the building’s older sections, some of which date as far back as 1950.
“They’re due,” Board of Education Member Shannon Herold quipped during Monday’s meeting.
The work at White’s Tower will also improve vehicle and pedestrian circulation throughout the campus. It should also address a problem with cars stacking on a gravel path, which forces the school resource officer to move them off onto the grass.
“We’ll be able to extend that area” to prevent stacking, said district Chief Operations Officer Matt Rigg.
Estimated cost for the work at White’s Tower, Kenton and Ryland Heights is $12 million, $10.5 million and $10.975 million, respectively.
Piner Elementary’s work is smaller, with cost estimates at $2.8 million. The work there will focus on vehicle and pedestrian circulation, interior improvements to the gym and restrooms, a roof replacement as well as various external renovations.
The district will seek bonding measures at a later date to finance the renovations.
Work on White’s Tower and Piner is tentatively scheduled to begin in the fall of this year, and work on the other schools is tentatively scheduled for spring of 2026.
School Work to be completed Estimated cost Project scope documents White’s Tower Elementary HVAC, circulation, roof replacement, internal and external renovations $12 million click here Piner Elementary Circulation, roof replacement, interiors of gym and restrooms, exterior renovations $2.8 million click here Kenton Elementary HVAC, roof replacement, internal and external renovations $10.5 million click here Ryland Heights Elementary HVAC, roof replacement, internal and external renovations $10.975 million click here