June 23, 2008 11:46 am
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By Adam Smith
The North Jefferson News
The dream of a new Corner High School got one step closer to reality this week after school officials awarded a construction bid.
In a Tuesday meeting, the Jefferson County Board of Education awarded a $41 million bid to Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC. The school board’s budget for the project was $38 million.
New school construction officials from the school board were not available for comment on the price difference. The bid will go before the school board to be approved next week.
School board member Karen Nix said she is pleased that progress is moving forward on the new school.
“The site itself is beautiful and the architect has created a unique design to take full advantage of it,” Nix said. “I’m proud to be a part of Corner finally having a facility that will match the community’s pride and Yellow Jacket spirit.”
Corner has some of the oldest school buildings in the county.
According to principal Ronald Cooper, Corner High School was still using coal furnaces to heat the school until about 2002.
The oldest parts of the high school campus date back to 1922. The school underwent its last major renovation in 1976.
“There’s a lot of what’s in that building that will go with us,” Cooper said. “It will seem like a new school, but a lot of the past will be with it.”
He said he and other educators were excited about other features of the school, including a new athletic complex to be located on campus and the new technology that teachers will be able to implement.
“With a new facility, it will be more convenient for all those involved,” he said. “We had a lot of input from teachers. It’s too bad they didn’t start [building] two years ago.”
Cooper said he anticipated enrollment will go up when the new school opens in 2010. Ninth-graders at Bagley Junior High School are expected to start school at the current high school campus this year, and ninth-grade teachers from the school will also be added this year.
“That’s so when the school is here, everyone will be on equal footing,” Cooper said. “We’ll pick up 75 to 80 students.”
The new school will be located off Warrior-Jasper Road, near the Bagley community. Cooper said the board of education may purchase right-of-way property on Bagley Road for a second entrance.
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