Huntsville City Schools’ $40 million Central Office and Center for Technology will welcome students when the school year begins on Aug. 4.

The two buildings at the corner of North Memorial Parkway and Max Luther Drive are the most visible signs of the early work on the school district’s 10-year, $600 million capital plan.

“We are thrilled to see our capital plan coming to life,” Huntsville Superintendent Clarence Sutton said. “In just one year, we are already seeing tangible progress that’s enhancing learning environments and supporting students across our district.”

The central office building is about 40,000 square feet. The career tech education center is about 80,000 square feet.

“We’re in the final processes of getting everything approved with the state,” construction consultant Scott Roberts said. “We’ve got some inspections next week that will get us to that point.” Roberts said a lot of the CTE equipment is already on site. He said teachers will be setting up before the start of the school year.

“The goal of this facility was to bring in all of the district wide career tech programs under one roof,” Roberts said. “Where they were scattered on different campuses, we now have welding, precision machining, industrial technology and maintenance, culinary, cosmetology, building science, automotive and nursing, health sciences, those will all be at this campus moving forward.

Other projects nearing completion

Other projects nearing completion as the school year begins include:

• Columbia Innovation Center: The Columbia Innovation Center will provide expanded STEM, technology, and innovation opportunities for students.
• Athletic upgrades: Student athletes at Lee High and Huntsville High are now competing on new turf baseball and softball fields.

Projects underway:

• Classroom additions: Construction is underway for classroom additions at Goldsmith-Schiffman Elementary and Hampton Cove Middle School, providing more capacity to accommodate growing student populations.
• Removal of pod gyms: Obsolete pod-style gymnasiums are being removed to make way for modern spaces that better meet students’ physical education needs.
• Cafeteria expansions: Work is in progress to expand the cafeterias at both Grissom High School and Columbia High School.

Upcoming projects

• McNair Junior High School addition: A new wing at McNair Junior High School is scheduled for completion ahead of the 2026-2027 school year, allowing the school to welcome sixth-grade students for the first time.
• Athletic field enhancements: Installation of turf baseball and softball fields at Jemison, Columbia, and Grissom High Schools will occur during this upcoming school year.
• New JROTC training center: At Columbia High School, work is beginning on a new JROTC Training Center, providing enhanced space for leadership and physical training.
• Chapman campus redevelopment: Construction will begin on a new Chapman Middle and magnet middle school and at the Chapman campus, continuing the district’s commitment to enhancing magnet programs. The Champman magnet school is scheduled to open in January 2029.
• Montview campus redevelopment: Plans are advancing for the development of a new Montview Elementary School along with a new magnet elementary school, both to be located on the existing Montview campus. The Montview magnet school is expected to open in August 2028.

Long range

Huntsville City Schools is committed to constructing a K through 8th grade school in Limestone County to accommodate the growth in the western part of the city. An architect has begun planning the school.

“The site is still being determined,” Roberts said.

Land has been set aside for a school by a developer off Swancott Road near Interstate 565.

Roberts said the school is projected to open in the 2028-29 school year.

The capital plan was approved by the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education in May 2024.