PLANNING FOR
THE FUTURE

At nearly 60 years old, North Country Union High School is approaching the end of its useful life. A state report found that approximately 94 percent of the building’s lifespan has been expended, and many major building systems are original or past their expected lifespan. Addressing these issues through ongoing repairs alone is becoming increasingly difficult and costly.

Many of the school’s core systems are original to the building or have exceeded their expected lifespan. This includes heating and ventilation, central cooling, the boiler system, fire alarms and sprinklers, electrical infrastructure, elevators, and exterior windows.

While routine maintenance has kept these systems operational, they are increasingly costly to maintain and less reliable over time.

Yes. Portions of the building’s exterior, particularly in the A-Wing lobby and connector corridor, experience periodic glass failures. Cracks at window sills, along with water infiltration and corrosion, contribute to these issues.

While staff can replace damaged glass, this approach does not resolve the underlying structural concerns causing the failures.

Like many older school buildings, NCUHS contains materials that require ongoing monitoring. A February 2026 asbestos surveillance report identified areas that will need future remediation. These materials are currently managed safely and do not pose an immediate risk, but they will require long-term planning and investment.

NCUHS was designed and built in the 1960s and does not fully align with today’s educational standards and expectations. Challenges include accessibility limitations, energy inefficiency, outdated infrastructure for technology, and insufficient space for modern instructional programs.

These factors make it difficult to adapt the building to meet current and future student needs.

The North Country Career Center has 25 rooftop heating, cooling, and ventilation units that are well beyond their life expectancy and are in need of replacement. Of the overall number of rooftop units that need to be serviced between NCCC and NCUHS annually, 75% of that service work occurs to the units on the NCCC roof.

Although renovations were made in 2007-08, the NCCC building still has significant maintenance needs.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were commonly used in construction materials during the 1960s and 1970s. At NCUHS, PCB contamination is associated with fire caulking used around windows and ductwork prior to 1980. Over time, contamination has spread to ventilation systems.

PCB contamination extends beyond the building itself and into surrounding soil, requiring protective measures such as rubber matting around the adjacent building’s exterior perimeter. This issue has also affected the adjacent North County Career Center (NCCC), which will also require significant remediation efforts. 

We have needed to limit the use of some educational spaces with identified and remediated PCBs. Reuse of the buildings would tie the school district to annual testing costs in perpetuity.

Yes. The North Country Career Center shares the campus and also faces facility challenges, including aging windows and doors, possible structural settlement, and aging kitchen equipment. These needs will be considered as part of the broader facility planning process.

Yes. PCB contamination is an issue affecting a number of older school buildings across Vermont. After elevated PCB levels were discovered at Burlington High School in 2020, the state began requiring testing in schools built or renovated prior to 1980. As testing has continued, more than 15 Vermont schools have been identified with elevated PCB levels in building materials or indoor air.

This statewide effort reflects the broader reality that many school facilities across Vermont are aging and will require significant investment in repairs, modernization, or replacement in the coming years.

An asbestos surveillance report conducted in February 2026 identified areas where future remediation will be necessary. While these materials do not currently present an immediate hazard, they will require attention as part of long-term facility planning.

School leaders and the Building Committee are evaluating a range of long-term options. These may include major renovations to the existing building or construction of a new facility. No final decisions have been made, and we are using a community-driven approach to finding solutions to our facility needs.

The North County Supervisory Union, in partnership with leaders at NCUHS and NCCC, is carefully evaluating long-term options and will engage the entire community in the process.

As part of this process, we have formed a Building Committee comprising staff members, parents, and community representatives. The committee has identified several priority areas:

• Community use of the building

• Failing building systems

• Inadequate space in key areas

• Building envelope issues

• ADA accessibility compliance

• PCB contamination

As we consider next steps, school leaders and the board are exploring whether renovation or construction of a new high school would provide the most responsible long-term solution.

Community engagement will be an important part of this process. The district will share updates, provide opportunities for residents to ask questions, and gather feedback as options are developed.

Our goal is to ensure that NCUHS continues to serve students and the broader community safely, efficiently, and effectively for generations to come.

The planning process is ongoing, and the district is currently gathering information and evaluating potential options.