(The Daily Advertiser) – Lafayette Parish officials hope to begin construction on the new high school in Youngsville on or about May 1.

The school board will review a projected timeline for the school’s construction at a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The academic building is expected to be substantially complete by July 29, 2017. The career/technical building and gym are expected to be finished by Nov. 30, 2017.

The school is slated to open in August 2017.

According to board documents, the board is expected to approve a guaranteed maximum price for the school’s construction. The estimated price is $62.3 million.

Also on Wednesday, the board is scheduled to vote on next year’s classroom ratios.The board will have a workshop at 4 p.m. Wednesday to discuss options for class sizes, as well as review school schedules, teacher schedules and class loads.

The board also is scheduled to review its projected budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year. The shortfall is expected to be a little more than $16 million, although that figure could change somewhat based on state funding figures that are expected to be available at the meeting.

Both the 4 p.m. workshop and 5:30 p.m. special meeting will be at the central office, 113 Chaplin Drive, Lafayette.