Johnson: New middle school construction to begin soon

By Scott Wright

CENTRE — Brian Johnson sounded like he was ready to begin building a new middle school all by himself, if only he had somewhere to start stacking the bricks.

"We're hoping to begin clearing the land for the middle school as early as Friday," Johnson, the Superintendent of Schools, said Wednesday. "We've already sold the timber on the land, and it will be great if we can begin clearing out the property by the weekend."

Johnson's excitement was warranted. A day earlier, almost 87 percent of 2,201 voters approved a plan to combine and extend four millage levies for the next 30 years. The guaranteed income will allow the Board of Education to fund millions of dollars in capital improvements at all eight campuses in the county system, including a new Centre Middle School at property the Board of Education already owns on Highway 411.

Two weeks ago, Johnson told The Post he anticipated borrowing around $15 million for construction projects at all eight campuses in Cherokee County.

The bond money, combined with around $3.6 million the county will receive from a prorated share of a statewide bond issue passed earlier this year by the Alabama Legislature, will allow the county to construct the new middle school, along with a new gymnasium at Sand Rock and classroom additions at Gaylesville, Sand Rock and Cherokee County High School.

Johnson said the money will also provide for the installation of modern heating and cooling units at four schools that still rely on antiquated steam boilers for heat.

"We're planning to meet with the architect on Sept. 10 to finalize the plans for the middle school," Johnson said. "We'll also meet with Principal Renee Miller and the faculty to get their input, and make sure we have everything designed how it needs to be."

Johnson said the next step after that will be to have the drawings approved by the state architect and then begin the process of putting the projects out for bid.

"And then we'll be ready to begin construction, hopefully as soon as the spring," Johnson said.

Johnson said he anticipates moving forward simultaneously on as many project as possible, both as a cost-cutting measure and to ensure each community in Cherokee County that their local school is no less important to the Board of Education than any other.

"Our architect has assured us that his firm is large enough that we should be able to move forward on all these projects at the same time."

Johnson said other building projects include classroom enhancements at Cherokee County Career and Technology Center, roofing modifications at several schools with flat roofs, such as Spring Garden, new locker room facilities at the gymnasium in Cedar Bluff, athletic facilities enhancements at Cherokee County High School, and new classrooms at Gaylesville, CCHS and Sand Rock.

Johnson said he feels Cherokee County schools are being run efficiently and making great strides in education, and finally having the money to build badly needed facilities will only make things better.

"Now we can continue to move forward and make sure our students get the education they deserve."