Renovations to Cedar Shoals High School are underway. The Clarke County Board of Education unanimously approved the CSHS renovation project cost breakdown of $25,733,322, which is more than double the previous estimate, at their monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8.
CSHS can expect six renovated buildings — with work including but not limited to improvements in roofing, doors, windows, plumbing, electrical systems and fire protection — by Aug. 1, 2025, according to the Clarke County Board of Education. The project was previously estimated at $7,676,241.
This renovation project was brought to the board because the now 24 year-old building was in need of system upgrades and replacements. It was identified in the SPLOST 6 referendum.
“It’s such a large expenditure and what we call a milestone event to start the renovation of a major high school after so long,” Linda Davis, District 3 board member, said.
John Gilbreath, CCSD director of facilities planning and construction, gave a progress report on Clarke Middle School renovations. Georgia Power is currently installing permanent power to the entire facility, which he said is a major milestone.
After renovation, the school will hold 1,200 students, a 400-student increase from the previous capacity.
“It’s like the ‘Field of Dreams’ — ‘if you build it, they will come,’” Gilbreath said.
Recognition and awards
The board awarded Ashleigh Faglier, first grade teacher at Whit Davis Elementary, the February employee of the month award. Faglier received a gift bag from the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.
The board also recognized Zake Adkins, who was employee of the month last February and works in CCSD plant services, for his 50 years of service to CCSD. He was presented with a plaque and applause.
The board also recognized the district winner, eighth grade student GJ Jaumot-Ramos, and runner up, seventh grade student Lisbeth Castro, of the CCSD spelling bee.
The winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. art and writing contest were also recognized. Awards were given for first, second and third place and honorable mention for K-2, 3-5, middle school and high school. This year, the contest received a record number of entries, all of which were shown on a slideshow as the awards were presented.
Since Feb. 17-24 is National Future Farmers of America Week and CCSD has active chapters at each high school in the district, the chapters were recognized and applauded for their work.
In recognition of National Career Technical Education Month, the board recognized the automotive education program at CSHS and awarded the instructor of the program, Dave Darden.
The automotive program received national accreditation in the areas of maintenance and light repair by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. To achieve such recognition, the program underwent rigorous evaluation by the Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation, ultimately receiving a $5,000 grant from the Georgia department of Education to help with the industry certification process.
“This is tremendous news for our district and the students at Cedar Shoals who choose to participate in the program, as students will be assured of a quality education and training,” Cyndee Moore, executive director of public relations and communications for CCSD, said.
The final award recognized 12 years clean of SPLOST audits, which meant there had been no detrimental findings or recommendations, and awarded Garrick Askew, CCSD’s chief of operations, and Gilbreath for their hard work.
After awards and recognitions, the meeting adjourned with final applause. More video coverage can be found on the CCSD YouTube channel.