New Dean Rusk school construction on schedule for completion in 2016

Womack, Lewis & Smith Superintendent Michael Dunagan points at the construction site of the new Dean Rusk Middle School on Thursday. Staff/C.B. Schmelter

Work on the new 255,037-square-foot building began in February and once completed, it will replace the existing Dean Rusk Middle School, which is now more than 25 years old and houses fewer than 900 students.

The Cherokee Board of Education received an update on the progress of construction on the new facility at its meeting Thursday and project managers report the new facility is on schedule to open for the 2016 school year.

Principal Cindy Cooper said the new facility, which will be built to house 1,600 students, is absolutely needed.

This facility is going to provide sixth- through eighth-grade access to tremendous instructional technology, and its also going to relieve some overcrowding in the zone as well, she said. What is going to be within the walls of that new building is going to be tremendous.

Asphalt and curbs have been laid in what is to be the front parking lot and grass began sprouting in late August, project managers said in the report given to school board members.

Structural steel installation is underway and most of the concrete slabs for the building have been put down, with polished concrete floors scheduled for pouring in late September.

Cooper said, referring to the construction progress, things are starting to come up out of the ground now.

To say that we are excited doesnt even come close, she said, thanking the superintendent and school board for the opportunity to get a new facility and thanking voters for approving the education SPLOST, which paid for most of the project. My teachers are absolutely thrilled. Theyre excited about the new technology and being in a new building, and what that entails.

The technology upgrades planned for the new facility, Cooper said, will give students and teachers many new opportunities for teaching and learning.

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New Dean Rusk school construction on schedule for completion in 2016