An Inside Look… at the new school facility

While the new Clinch County PreK-12 facility appears far from complete from the outside, the inside looks ready to go for the start of the school year on August 12.

Construction is on schedule for the facility, which will house grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 in three separate schools (Clinch County Elementary, Clinch County Middle, and Clinch County High), according to Superintendent Dr. Lori James.

James said principals will report to the new building on July 17, with teachers being able to report two weeks later. The school will have a staggered start. The first day for PreK-2nd grade students  will be Monday, August 12; 3rd-5th grades-Tuesday, August 13; 6th-8th grades-Wednesday, August 14; and 9th-12th grades, Thursday, August 15. 

A recent tour of the school showed all classrooms painted and stocked with desks, chairs, and the latest in technological equipment. The CTAE building will be shared by middle school and high school students, and features a large culinary arts room, and state-of-the-art facilities for business and industrial arts classes.

James said the only part of the school which will not be ready for use at the start of school may be the gymnasiums. The new high school gymnasium is located on the Carswell Street Extension side of the campus, while the elementary school will use the old CCHS gymnasium, which is under renovation. James also said the front parking lot, where the old CCHS facility was located, will not likely be complete by the start of school on August 12. That front parking lot will be used for guests and faculty, while the back parking lot, located behind the CTAE building off of Locklier Road, will be for student parking.

James said the new facility will come with new and enhanced safety features. High-definition security cameras cover the entire campus, inside and out. Administrators will be alerted through a system if the monitoring has an issue or a door is not closed. There will be metal detectors at the middle school and high school entrances, but not the elementary school. The metal detectors will also be used for athletic events. There are also new high-tech systems for visitor management and crisis alerts. 

James said a ribbon cutting for the new building will be held for the community once school begins. Open Houses will be held: August 7 – PreK – 5:30; August 8 – K-2nd – 4-6 p.m.; August 8 – 3rd-5th-5-7 p.m.; August 13 – 6th-8th – 5 p.m.; August 14 – 9th-12th- 5 p.m.