Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores will consider spending more than $7 million for site work for a new high school during the regular city council meeting on Jan. 9 at city hall.

The council will vote to give Mayor Robert Craft authority to sign a contract with Cunningham-Delaney to complete preliminary work for the school in an amount of $7.4 million. The new school will be built at the southwest corner of the intersection of the Beach Express and Coastal Gateway Boulevard on 200 acres donated to the city by the Craft Family.

Bids were opened on Dec. 5 from three of the four preapproved bidders and Cunningham-Delaney was the lowest of the conforming bids.

“Authorization of this contract will allow the high school site work to be completed prior to bidding the construction of the Gulf Shores High School facility, in July 2023,” the agenda for the Jan. 3 meeting states. “Scope of work includes site work, drainage work, utility work and road and parking lot development.”

Superintendent Matt Akin said in March he wanted the design on the new high school to start in spring of 2022 with a target date for opening on the new campus in the fall of 2025.

“This is a new collaborative learning style facility,” City Administrator Steve Griffin said. “The school board adopted this as part of their 10-year plan and that’s going to be looked at as part of its overall funding plan.”

The high school is the crown jewel of a 10-year capital improvement plan for Gulf Shores City Schools. Once completed, the middle school will move into the old high school and the growing elementary school will take over the adjacent middle school space.

It is part of a plan by Gulf Shores to borrow almost $200 million for capital improvements at the schools and in city infrastructure.

During the regular session, the council will:

• Hear a presentation honoring Cody Richardson as the Gulf Shores Firefighter of the Quarter. Richardson has worked for Gulf Shores Fire Department since 2019, recently completed the Alabama Smoke Diver course and organized at a 9/11 ceremony with firefighters from neighboring departments attending.

• Consider rezoning part of the Gulf Shores First Presbyterian’s property from multi-family to general business to accommodate office spaces for new businesses.

• Have a second reading and public hearing on amending the home occupation zoning ordinance “to allow food handling, processing or packing as a home occupation, as long as the business is in accordance with all requirements of the Alabama Cottage Food Law.”

• Consider a request from Mr. and Mrs. Donald Piland for annexation of 10.2 acres on Oyster Bay Road into the city. When annexed it will be zoned as residential medium density and single family.

• Consider a request for annexation into the city by Robbie Tillman on County Road 8 in Taylor’s Riverview Subdivision and will be zoned as residential medium density and single family if annexed.

• Consider a request for annexation into the city by Mr. and Mrs. William Stewart of three lots on County Road 8. When annexed it will be zoned as residential medium density and single family.