Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood could break ground on a new two-story auditorium and artificial-turf baseball and softball fields as early as summer 2027.

The Kenton County Board of Education approved schematic designs and a state construction application for the project's first phase on Monday, Nov. 2, as LINK nky reports. Construction costs are estimated at just over $25 million, with the total project cost expected to reach $30 million. Phase 1 construction is expected to last two years.

"They have been waiting for this for a long time," Board Chairperson Jesica Jehn said.

The auditorium and turf fields are the opening move in a multiphase overhaul of the high school's facilities. The full project would roll out in two or three phases over as many as five years, Superintendent Dr. Henry Webb said.

Final funding mix undecided

The district has not yet locked in a funding source for Phase 1. That decision will not happen until construction bids go out, likely in April or May 2027, Chief Operations Officer Matt Rigg said. Rigg said funding would likely come from a combination of a new bond series and capital reserves.

Those bonds would be separate from the $60 million in bonds the district approved earlier in 2026 for elementary school renovations. The Dixie Heights work is part of the district's 2023-2027 facilities plan, which covers all 17 schools.

What the new auditorium looks like

The new auditorium would seat 555 people, more than double the roughly 248 seats in the current space, according to Rigg. It would feature a 50-foot stage allowing aerial scenery to drop from the ceiling, similar to rigs at venues like the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

The second story would include a glass conference room overlooking the school's athletic facilities. Other rooms in the building include a scenery shop, band and choir rooms, and one-on-one practice spaces.

The design matters for security, too. Rigg said the auditorium would have locking doors to cut off access to the rest of the school when outside groups use the space. He said the district believes those features would make the facility attractive for community groups to rent.

Why the auditorium comes first

Rigg told the board that Dixie Heights is uniquely landlocked compared with some other district schools. Building the new auditorium first lets the district convert the old one into temporary classroom space during future renovations.

Turfing the softball and baseball fields will also free up the grass site where the district plans to build a fieldhouse, Webb said. A fieldhouse was one of the first things constituents asked about when Webb started at the district a decade ago.

What could come in later phases

The board also approved a state construction application listing possible future upgrades:

  • A fieldhouse with a concession stand and public restrooms
  • Converting the current auditorium into a multipurpose room
  • Classroom, HVAC, and roofing upgrades
  • Replacement of the outdoor track
  • LED stadium lighting

Newport-based Emboss Design and Cincinnati-based engineering firm CMTA Inc. prepared the schematic design plans the board reviewed. Rigg called the plans "the roughest of rough drafts" but said his team is satisfied with the product.

The board's next regular meeting is Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at the district's central office, 2044 Tuscanyview Dr. in Covington.