School is officially out for summer, with construction news.

Construction has begun on eight schools in South Washington County.

Overseen by the 128 year old firm Kraus-Anderson after passage of a three question, $250 million bond referendum back in fall 2023, summer construction in South Washington County Schools will predominantly impact the middle and high schools this year, a road also being constructed at Woodbury Elementary. Construction will arrive in earnest for district elementary schools next year.

As for the middle and high school projects this summer, improvements are many.

Starting with Cottage Grove’s own Park High off 80th Street South, plans by KOMA Architecture, Interior Design, and Engineers call for a 38,877 square foot addition, including a new kitchen, cafeteria, storm shelter, as well as Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Education and Math (STEM) areas, plus a new school entry on the north side. Construction plans at Park High also call for a 40,771 total square foot interior remodel of administration and student services, as well as science classrooms and a storm shelter. Exterior renovations at Park will include a reconfigured roadway to add parking and enhance traffic flow and safety for pickup and drop-off. The storm shelter is scheduled for completion in August 2026, with the remainder due for completion in summer 2027.

Also in planned building improvements for South Washington County Schools is Oltman Middle School, located across from Hawthorne by Pulte Homes on Goodview Avenue South in Cottage Grove.

Designed by Wold Architects and Engineers, plans for Oltman Middle School call for added classrooms to accommodate approximately 1,300 students, as well as creation of new STEM and special education spaces, along with a kitchen. The project addition at Oltman will be organized into pods to encourage collaboration, grouped around a shared flexible area with natural sunlight.

Measuring 43,674 square feet in all, the project will also see an expanded cafeteria designed for versatile seating spaces and provide options for various students sensory needs. The renovations and improvements are expected to be complete in August 2026.

Last for improvements in Cottage Grove but not the district, Cottage Grove Middle School will also see changes. Plans drawn up by KOMA Architects call for a new secure entry and office space at Cottage Grove Middle, as well as remodel of existing offices for working together. Exterior changes will include a new entry and parking improvements as well as new green spaces, the project expected to be complete in August 2026.

Crossing the border to Lake Middle School on Pioneer Drive in Woodbury, meanwhile, similar improvements are called for. Plans call for a security upgrades and office space, as well as remodel of existing offices to provide collaboration spaces. Changes to the outside at Lake will include a new entry as well as parking improvements and new green spaces. Like Cottage Grove Middle School, improvements at Lake are expected to be complete in August 2026.

Continuing in Woodbury on Pioneer Drive, East Ridge High School  will also see improvements. Plans drawn up by KOMA Architecture for the 87,145 square foot project include increasing the school’s capacity to 2,300 students, as well as construction of additional CTE and STEM spaces, to support future growth and curriculum offerings. Special education and online learning will be redesigned under the plans, while renovations will be made to the kitchen, cafeteria, and other spaces at the two story school. Among these will be added storm shelters for student and staff safety, while the plaza space outside will be redesigned at the athletics and activities entrance, along with changes to parking and traffic. Improvements at East Ridge are planned for completion in 2026.

Next for school upgrades in Woodbury, plans for Woodbury High School on Woodlane Drive include a 75,000 total square foot project, complete with a new front entry that will double as a storm shelter. Also in plans for Woodbury High are cafeteria and kitchen update, as well as remodel for existing science rooms, media center and classroom wings.

As for exterior renovations, plans for Woodbury High include new parking lots and a bus drop off, as well as landscape upgrades. Improvements at Woodbury High School are planned for completion in August 2027.

Also in view at Woodbury are plans for Woodbury Middle School, located on School Drive in Woodbury. Plans drawn up by Wold Architects for the 28,303 total square foot project at Woodbury Middle call for renovation of the pool and main office, along with music spaces. The pool will be reconfigured as a new multi-purpose spaces, while outdoor storage spaces will be added as well. Plans for Woodbury Middle School call for a new road to be added to the east sider of the building to ease traffic at pickup and drop off, the road connecting to Upper Afton Road on the school’s north side. Improvements at Woodbury Middle School are expected to be complete in fall 2026.