The Perry County School District 32 campus is preparing for an eventful 2026-27 school year with several key tornado recovery projects kicking off alongside the start of fall classes.
PHS Demolition Wrapping Up — Construction to Start in Fall
Contractors from Marschel Wrecking continue to make progress on the demolition of the former Perryville High School building.
Almost all of the structural walls are now down, however Marschel will continue work to remove foundations and debris throughout the coming weeks.
With the passage of Proposition K.I.D.S. during the August 4 Primary Election, District 32 is moving forward with plans to build a new facility for Perryville High School.
Architects from SAPP Design are working with the board and district officials to develop final drawings of a 147,500 square foot facility that will contain 35 instructional spaces, a student commons, a library, a multipurpose center, a gymnasium, a weight room, and locker rooms. The district will share final renderings and more detailed floor plans as they are finalized in the coming months.
The PHS project is expected to be completed in phases over approximately 26 months. The construction team is aiming to have the completed facility ready for the beginning of the spring term in January of 2029. Follow the links below for and updated timeline for the project as well as the most recent floor plans.
The passage of Prop K.I.D.S. will allow the district to borrow $35 million to invest in the PHS construction project. The District 32 Board established a $60 million target budget for the project. Alongside the $35 million from Prop K.I.D.S., the District plans to fund the remaining $25 million through contributions from insurance, District funds, and FEMA reimbursements.
PHS Interim Plans
PHS classes will continue to be spread across several temporary spaces campus-wide throughout the construction project. Below is a quick overview of where PHS classes and events will be held for the 2026-27 school year. The district will provide bus service for students who have to transition across campus between classes.
Learning Expo Tent Structure (Classrooms & Admin Offices)
Old Senior High (Classrooms & Admin Offices)
Salvaged PHS Structure (Band, Choir, & Cafeteria)
Old Vocational Building (Art & SPED Classrooms)
“The Barn”/Old 5th Grade Building (Locker Rooms & Weight Training)
Elementary Bell Tower Wing (Science Classrooms)
Perry Park Center (Athletic Practices & Theater Performances)
Middle School Gymnasium (Athletic Practices & Games)
With active recovery projects happening on campus throughout the school year, the district’s Construction Manager at Risk Brockmiller Construction has advised they will establish secure, clearly defined barriers and safe pathways for students to avoid work areas. Brockmiller will also work with contractors to minimize invasive noise during instructional time throughout the demolition and construction process.
"Building a brand-new home for Perryville High School is a historic milestone for our community, but no project is more important than the daily safety of our students and staff,” said superintendent Dr. Fara Jones. “Throughout this school year and the entire construction process, safety will drive every logistical decision we make. We are taking every proactive step to ensure our students and staff can thrive in a safe environment while our future takes shape."
Prep Work Underway on Metal Building
Brockmiller Construction has begun site work at the east end of Pirate Stadium in preparation for the construction of a 10,910 square-foot pre-engineered metal building. Once completed, this building will serve as a temporary home for eight PHS classrooms and administrative offices until the new High School building is completed.
Brockmiller advised foundation work will begin in the coming weeks and they anticipate the building will be completed towards the end of spring 2027. The metal building will allow the district to decommission the Learning Expo tent, which is the last remaining rented structure on campus. Classrooms and offices will be relocated out of the Expo and into the metal building prior to the 2027-28 school year.
The District 32 Board of Education approved a $2.6 million bid package for work on the metal building during its August meeting. The District will submit the cost of this facility to FEMA for reimbursement.
"Replacing the Expo tent with the metal building makes sense for our campus both operationally and financially,” Dr. Jones said. “Rather than continuing to pay rent, this is an investment in a durable structure that is ours. The potential to recoup some of the costs from FEMA makes it an even more cost-effective move for the district.”
The construction of the metal building will cause the Pirate Stadium scoreboard to be temporarily decommissioned. A mobile scoreboard will be brought in for the 2026 season. There will also be a net installed behind the east goalpost to keep balls from flying into the construction area. The scoreboard and net are expected to be in place for the first home football game against Fredericktown on Friday, Aug. 28.
See also: PHS Tornado Recovery and Prop K.I.D.S.