According to a parent newsletter sent out to parents at Model, John Williamson, superintendent of Model said the construction would be fully funded by the state.
Eastern Kentucky University in the 2022-2024 budget received $90 million which was budgeted for this fiscal year for constructing a new Model Lab School. This past budget (2024-2026), the university received another $59.1 million for the new school.
“Thanks to the great support of the General Assembly, Eastern Kentucky University has received full funding for the replacement of Model Laboratory School. This milestone was finalized in the recently approved state budget and signed by the governor at the conclusion of the legislative session last week,” he said.
University officials added the following statement:
"The new school will help fulfill EKU's vision of providing a cutting-edge, hands-on learning laboratory to empower the next generation of Kentucky educators solidifying EKU as a leader in teacher education."
EKU received a grand total of $149.1 million to fund the multi-phase construction of Model Lab’s new school building.
Model is working on next steps, according to Williamson.
Included in those next steps are requests for bids for the project.
“During this period, the university will receive construction bids for the project. Based on the current timeline, we anticipate construction to begin [in] Spring [of] 2025,” Williamson said.
In the 2022-2024 budget, Model was budgeted $90 million dollars and in a WKYT news segment, it was stated that “the superintendent told WEKU they hoped to begin planning and design this year and have kids in by 2025.” That timeline since the December 7, 2023 air date has changed several times.
“If all continues according to plan, we aim to inaugurate the 2027-2028 school year in a ‘state-of-the-art’ facility,” Williamson said.
According to the newsletter, part of what has to be settled is site and location.
“Moving forward, our next steps entail finalizing the design, site and location, and construction planning, a process expected to span several months,” he said.
Other than the Spring 2025 potential start date for construction, no other details have been given to the public.