Prague is set to get a brand new high school.
Construction began on the new over 40,000-square-foot facility in July 2025, according to Superintendent Kimberly Fleak, and should be completed in about two and a half years.
“I think the community is excited for our new high school and all the improvements and updates it will bring to our facilities. Our students deserve to have the best facilities that we can provide for them,” she said.
The new high school will have 22 classrooms including two computer labs, a Family and Consumers Science classroom and kitchen, a science lab, art studio space, two teacher workrooms and dedicated special education space, Fleak said.
It will also have a new library and alternative education space, as well as a large student commons area that will also serve as cafeteria space and can be used for small events.
The current alternative education space, which is the former high school library, will become the new agricultural education classrooms and shop, bringing those classes closer to campus.
Fleak said the new space should be more than enough to accommodate Prague’s current student population as well as any growth they have in the future. Should they outgrow it, the architect has designed the plans to have several options for expansion.
She added that they were able to add additional classrooms, one of which will be a special education room for the severe and profound student population, which allowed for future classroom expansion at the middle school. Those classes are currently held there.
This is a change from previous plans, Fleak said. Originally they planned to build one new wing, remodel two current wings and demolish another, which would enclose the entire space to increase safely “However, what we found was that it would be a wiser investment of our tax payer’s money to do a complete new rebuild of the high school for almost the same cost,” she said.
The project is estimated to stay under $18 million of the bond funds, she said.
A bond was passed in spring 2024 after a failed one in April 2023. Fleak attributed it to the vision and perseverance of former Superintendent Kevin Engle, the school board and several staff and community members. She said that the bond committed was made up of staff members, community members and other stakeholders, working hours to gain input from staff and community on what was wanted and would meet the needs of the district.
“The efforts of those, combined with our architect and board, developed a new high school bond of $28 million that was put forth to our votes and passed in April of 2024. We are in Phase 1 of the construction process at this time and are hopeful to see it completed in 2027,” she said. Currently, the new east side parking lot and circle drive have been completed. The first phase will continue with the destruction of four classrooms on the south end. New water and sewer lines have been installed, along with two new manholes, and initial dirk work is completed. The dirt work for the first wing of the new building that will run east to west at the south end of the current high school is currently in progress.