Construction Work at Colham Ferry Elementary and North Oconee to Begin Within Months

Two top-tier facility improvement projects that will be funded by (E-SPLOST) are moving right along, Mark Channell, assistant superintendent for operations and student services, told the Oconee County Board of Education at a meeting on Monday.

"I'm excited," he said. "We've talked about Tier 1 projects for a number of months and, since the we're going to march forward to hopefully see some of these E-SPLOST projects become reality."

He discussed timelines for renovations to the oldest elementary school in the county, and the construction of an All Sports Field House at .

Colham Ferry Elementary School Upgrades

Bids for the Colham Ferry Elementary renovations could go out as early as the end of this week.  The bids will be brought before the Board for consideration on Feb 6, he said.

The following is planned for Phase 1 of the Colham Ferry project, to be completed during the summer of 2012, according to Channell's presentation:

• Re-roof two buildings (Grades 3, 4 and 5)
• Replace HVAC in the same two buildings
• Add three corridors for student safety: one to the art room, one to connect to the front of the building with the 3rd/4th grade wing, and one is to connect the main building with the 5th grade wing
• Repair/Replace exterior plumbing (as needed) – Add gates/fencing for security
• Add electronic card access to key doors – Add lobby to front of school for visitor check in – Re-surface paving/review traffic plan
• Replace lighting/ceiling tiles in the two buildings receiving re-roofing and HVAC
• New flooring in the two buildings
• New painting in the two buildings
• New technology/electrical wiring (as required) for the two building

Teachers recommended the above renovations be completed simultaneously so they'd only have to remove items from classrooms once, he said.

The work will probably have to be done in double shifts during the nine-week window, Channel said, but he doesn't anticipate any troubles.

"The key for us to have a successful summer is to make sure that equipment is here ahead of time so that we can get moving when the kids are gone," he said.

In Phase 2, which will take place during the summer of 2013, all other buildings will receive new flooring, paint, bathroom fixtures, plumbing upgrades (as needed), partitions, lighting, ceiling tiles, phone system, intercom system, technology/electrical wiring (as required), and some kitchen equipment, he said.

NOHS All Sports Field House

Channel also gave an update about the construction plans for the NOHS All Sports Field House, a project that he said has been in the works for about four years.

The project will be released for bids on Jan. 2 and the School Board will likely consider the bids at its Feb. 13 meeting.  The contractor will begin construction as soon as a bid is approved and work will take about five months to complete, Channell explained.

The two-story All Sports Field House will be equipped with a total of five locker rooms with toilets and showers, meeting room, storage room, training room, equipment room, and four offices with separate toilets and showers.

All outdoor sports teams such as football, soccer, cross country and track and field will have access to the All Sports Field House, he said.

"I think the community's going to be pleased and I think the Board is going to be ecstatic once things get rolled out and get going," Chanell said of both projects.

Are you pleased with the plans for these projects? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Questions about the projects should be directed to Channell, Superintendent John Jackson, or Randy Morrison, assistant superintendent of financial operations.