UCPS Bond 2022 - Election Day is Nov. 8

Union County voters approve $134M in school bonds

  • On Nov. 8, Union County voters approved a $134 million bond referendum to address aging facilities and replace current buildings at East Elementary and Forest Hills High. The school bond passed with 62 (61.96%) percent of voters approving the referendum. This data was reported on the Union County Board of Elections website with 52 out of 52 precincts reporting.

    Since 2000, school bonds have resulted in nearly 30 new school construction and renovation projects. The last school bond passed in 2016 with 71 percent of votes.

    “I want to thank Union County residents for supporting this bond,” said Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan. “Replacing East Elementary and Forest Hills High will allow us to provide modern facilities for our students and staff that will align with current instructional programs. In addition, the new schools will have innovative classroom space, expanded dining areas, updated media centers and teacher workrooms.”

    Citizens can begin to see developments for the new schools this spring. The design process will be complete in early winter and construction is expected to begin by the summer of 2023. Both East Elementary and Forest Hills High will have a Project Advisory Team that includes parents, teachers, students and community members. The teams will be an active part of the design and construction phases of the projects.

    In May and June 2023, UCPS held ground-breaking ceremonies at East Elementary and Forest Hills High School. These events marked the beginning of the construction phases for each project. 

    View time-lapse construction updates at East Elementary School and Forest Hills High School.

East Elementary School

  • Approximately $38,592,589 (includes design cost) 

    • The original building is 70 years old.
    • The existing building will be demolished.
    • The new school will be built on the same property.
    • The new school will be a two-story facility.
    • Architectural features include additional Pre-K classrooms, a flexible multi-purpose gym, expanded dining space, collaboration areas, more energy-efficient building, improved safety with more on-site parking.

    Forest Hills High School

    • Approximately $95,812,411 (includes design cost)

      • The school is 60 years old.
      • The current building is inadequate for a modern-day high school.
      • The new school will be a two-story facility.
      • Architectural features include a new auditorium, an expanded dining room area, updated teacher workrooms, a modern media center with collaboration space, a multi-purpose auxiliary gym, a new weight room, and new arts and band spaces.
      • All instruction and school-day activities will be in one building.