Modernization Plan

Centura Public Schools has served generations of students since the first class graduated in 1968. While the building continues to serve the community well, many parts of the facility have not been updated since 1981.

The proposed modernization plan focuses on updating learning spaces, improving safety and security, and addressing aging building systems so the school can continue to serve Centura students for decades to come.

Education at Centura Has Changed

While student enrollment has remained relatively stable, how students learn and the programs schools provide have changed significantly over time.

Today, Centura serves students through:

  • Full-day kindergarten programs
  • Preschool programming
  • Special education services
  • Career and Technical Education opportunities

Many of these programs either did not exist or were much smaller when the school building was originally designed. As a result, some spaces are now used in ways they were never intended.

The modernization plan focuses on updating and repurposing spaces so they better support the way students learn today.

Repurposing & Reclaiming Instructional Space

Many areas of the building currently serve multiple purposes throughout the school day. By adding new classroom space, the school will be able to better organize programs and reclaim instructional areas that are currently stretched across several uses. The plan also improves circulation between the elementary and high school areas of the building and includes updates to help meet ADA accessibility requirements.

This will allow more dedicated space for:

  • Music and performing arts
  • WIN (What I Need) time
  • Small group learning and collaboration
  • Student support programs

The goal is not simply to add space, but to use the building more effectively for the programs Centura students rely on today.

Physical Education & Student Wellness

Student wellness and physical education have also evolved over time. Today, students are required to complete two years of physical education, and many high school students participate in strength and conditioning classes.

These courses run throughout the school day and function as instructional classes, similar to other academic subjects. The modernization plan includes improvements to support these programs in a space designed to function as a classroom environment while supporting student fitness and training.

Infrastructure Improvements

A significant portion of the proposed project focuses on critical building systems that support the daily operation of the school. While many of these upgrades are not highly visible, they are essential to maintaining a safe, comfortable, and reliable learning environment.

Planned infrastructure improvements include:

  • Replacement of aging HVAC and mechanical systems

  • Updates to building infrastructure that has been in place for decades

  • Fire and life safety improvements, including sprinkler systems and updated smoke detection

  • Improvements that support building efficiency and long-term reliability

These systems operate behind the scenes but play a critical role in the safety, comfort, and functionality of the school each day.