Modifications on two of Habersham County’s oldest elementary schools are now underway.
At a work session Thursday, April 17, Assistant Superintendent David Leenman told members of Habersham’s Board of Education that renovations on Woodville Elementary in Clarkesville (built in 1950) and Hazel Grove Elementary in Mt. Airy (built in 1954) are expected to be complete by summer’s end.
“They have already done a great job and made significant progress in just a couple of days,” Leenman said.
To minimize potential distractions, Superintendent Patrick Franklin told board members none of the louder work is being done during school hours, with crews often beginning around 3:30 p.m. or 4 p.m.
Gainesville’s Carroll Daniel Construction is leading the $7.3 million project. Funding is expected to come from bond funds and Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenue.
With expansion, Woodville will see an additional three classrooms, reconfigured administrative space, roof replacement, a secured entrance and expanded student and adult restrooms. The building also will be repainted.
Hazel Grove, the second oldest school building in Habersham (1954), will now receive new restrooms and new windows.
When the modifications were approved in November, Franklin described the projects as part of much-needed upgrades that will also provide room for future expansion.
“In 1950, you didn’t have the same needs as student do now,” he said. “It will be more of a complete renovation…the cost is with a contingency. Everything will be that (cost) or lower.”
Long-term, the upgrades will provide crucial capacity for schools to grow with Habersham County, according to Franklin. “It gives us room to grow and also modernizes two of our older buildings,” he said. “Those are community schools. The community loves them, so we need to bring them up to date.”
Following approval in November, Habersham County Board of Education Member Doug Westmoreland agreed and stated, “We need the newer facilities and the space. It’s still a beautiful building. Both of them are. But it’s come time after 60 years that we need to do some updates and expansions and get that building up to code.”
