By Kathryn Schiliro
Managing Editor

Construction of the new classroom building at Morgan County High School (MCHS) is two months ahead of schedule, at least for the time being.
The $3.029 million project – the bid from Kevin Price General Contractors, who also built the new gym at MCHS, was approved by the county Board of Education in April; Manley Spangler Smith Architects designed the building – was set to be completed in May 2013. Instead, thanks in large part to the weather, the job might be done in March 2013, according to school system Director of Operations Bob Monk.
So long as things continue at the pace they're going now, and taking weather into account, the brick-and-mortar portion of the building could be completed by year's end, Monk said. It will take about two months to complete the paving work and landscaping, and to move furniture into the building.
The building, which, in April, was said to be the school's new Freshman Academy campus, will be occupied at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. It's located behind MCHS's new gym and before the school system's bus shop on the school's campus.
In years past the space has been used by 4-H archery and MCHS cross country teams. Archery has long since moved to another space for practice.
The new classroom building is set to include 10 new classrooms and two science labs, along with office space and a large gathering space at the front of the building. It will also generate about 30 new parking spaces.
Also of note, this new classroom building will eliminate the need for the two portables – a total of four classrooms – currently on the MCHS campus.
"Those will go away when the new classrooms are built," Monk said.

Printed in the August 16, 2012 edition