Jackson County Schools launching a classroom addition project at Dodson Branch School to accommodate rising enrollment and expanded student services.
Director of Schools Jason Hardy said the district is in the early planning stages of adding three to four new classrooms to the facility. Hardy said the project is expected to cost approximately $750,000 and will be funded through the school system’s reserve funds.
“We think that this is even though it’s not a huge project,” Hardy said, “We think that it’ll probably take the rest of the year so we’re hoping that by summertime that we will have that completed and then we’ll be able to move into those new classrooms the start of next school year.”
Hardy said the additional space will eliminate the need for small group classes to rotate between rooms during planning periods. Hardy said the expansion also creates dedicated space for speech therapy, occupational therapy, computer science, and Career and Technical Education classes.
“Just areas to do more than what we’ve been able to do in the past so very excited about it,” Hardy said. “We’ve been very fortunate that we have a reserve that we’re when we have something that we need to build that we’re not having to go out and borrow money that we’re able to do that so we’re very proud of that and you know hoping that we can get that going and again started for our kids by the begin of next year.”
Hardy said the district met with an architect last week to review initial drawings and plans for the addition. Hardy said he expects to present those drawings to the Board of Education during its next meeting on September 8.
“If everything goes well it’s approved by the board and to go forward we will immediately put out the bid after the September 8th meeting,” Hardy said. “So you’re looking at at the bids going out within the next couple days and then that’ll at least be a two week process maybe a little longer. And then once you get into that we’re looking at anywhere from seven to nine months probably in having everything wrapped up and getting to the summertime and moving in and beginning next school year to enter the building and start classes.”
