HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT TIMELINE

The project timeline is presented in reverse chronological order with the most recent dates listed first.

June 18, 2026: During the June 2026 Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees meeting, the IHL Board approved the proposed exterior design of the new Starkville High School. Approval is required for buildings constructed on public university campuses.

May 29, 2026: SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee and Board of Trustees President Sumner Davis attended a City of Starkville Board of Aldermen Work Session at the request of the BOA for the purpose of sharing information and answering questions about the new high school. The work session was open to the public.

May 12, 2026: During the May 2026 SOCSD Board of Trustees meeting, the school board approved a resolution to authorize the issuance of a $101 million General Obligation Bond for the purpose of funding the new high school construction. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

April 27, 2026: SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee was the featured speaker at a Community Conversations event held at Griffin Chapel United Methodist Church and hosted by Oktibbeha County NAACP for the purpose of sharing information and answering questions about the new high school. The event was hosted and publicized by NAACP and was open to the public.

2026 Legislative Session: The Mississippi Legislature provided a $4 million budget allocation to Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District for the purpose of funding new high school construction.

March 27, 2026: During a special-called meeting of the SOCSD Board of Trustees, the school board approved the lowest bid submitted and authorized Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee to enter into a contract on behalf of SOCSD for Phase I of the new high school construction. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

February 10, 2026: Beginning with the February 2026 Board of Trustees meeting, the school board began accepting monthly updates on the new high school construction project presented by the contracted architecture and construction management firms at the request of Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

January 13, 2026: During the January 2026 SOCSD Board of Trustees meeting, the school board approved an Amended and Restated Ground Lease with Mississippi State University which included an expansion of the leased premises for the construction of a new high school adjacent to Partnership Middle School. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

November 21, 2025: SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee was the featured speaker at a Lunch and Learn held at The Mill and hosted by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership for the purpose of sharing information about the new high school as well as general information about student opportunities offered by the school district. The event was hosted and publicized by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership and was open to GSDP members.

November 3, 2025: SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee was the featured speaker at a Community Conversations event held at Starkville Church of God and hosted by Oktibbeha County NAACP for the purpose of sharing information and answering questions about the new high school. The event was hosted and publicized by NAACP and was open to the public.

September 25, 2025: Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District hosted a joint Memorandum of Understanding Signing event with Mississippi State University formalizing the partnership between the district and MSU to build a new high school on the college campus. The MOU Signing was open to the public.

September 9, 2025: During the September 2025 SOCSD Board of Trustees meeting, the school board approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with MSU "for the mutual goals, objectives, plans and anticipated responsibilities for funding, planning, constructing and operating of a high school facility on the campus of Mississippi State University." (from Board agenda) All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

July 8, 2025: During the July 2025 SOCSD Board of Trustees meeting, the school board approved a resolution to authorize issuance of General Obligation Bonds up to $125 million. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

June 20, June 27 & July 4, 2025: Notice of intent to issue bonds up to $125 million was published in Starkville Daily News outlining the issuance and stating that a petition requesting a bond referendum was required by July 8, 2025 at 6:00pm.

June 17, 2025: During the June 2025 SOCSD Board of Trustees meeting, the school board approved a request from Superintendent, Dr. Tony McGee to engage Young Law Group as the district's bond counsel. The board also approved the publication of the Resolution of Intent to issue general obligation bonds up to $125 million for the purpose of funding new high school construction. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

June 9, 2025: SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee served as a panelist for an Education Forum hosted by Oktibbeha County NAACP at the Greensboro Center Auditorium to share updates from the school district and information about the high school construction project. The event was hosted and publicized by NAACP and open to the public.

April 9, 2024: During the April 2024 SOCSD Board of Trustees meeting the school board approved a request from Superintendent, Dr. Tony McGee to enter into a contract with MP Design Group for architectural services for the new high school project. The board also approved a request from Superintendent, Dr. Tony McGee to enter into a contract with Innovative Construction Management (ICM) for construction management services for the new high school project. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

2024 Legislative Session: The Mississippi Legislature passed HB 1230, which extended the district's ability to issue bonds by a "reverse referendum" process until July 1, 2027. The original authorization was passed by the Legislature with a sunset of July 1, 2024.

July 25, 2023: During a special-called meeting of the SOCSD Board of Trustees, the school board approved a resolution to issue bonds for up to $87 million with the discretion to issue a portion of the bonds at a later date. The board authorized an immediate issuance of $1 million for the purpose of funding an exploration of facilities use. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.

July 6, July 13 & July 20, 2023: Notice of intent to issue bonds up to $87 million was published in Starkville Daily News outlining the issuance and stating that a petition requesting a bond referendum was required by July 25, 2023 at 6:00pm. 

June 29, 2023: During a special-called meeting of the SOCSD Board of Trustees, the school board approved the publication of a Resolution of Intent to issue general obligation bonds up to $87 million for the purpose of funding new high school construction. All Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.