District nearing completion of bond construction projects

Thanks to overwhelming community support, Richland One has beautiful new and renovated state-of-the art schools that rival any across the nation.

The transformation began in 1996 when voters passed a $184 million bond issue to build and renovate the district’s elementary schools. Voters went back to the polls in 2002 and overwhelmingly approved a $381 million bond issue to upgrade the district’s middle schools, high schools and athletics facilities. Besides being old, most of the buildings were not designed for today’s teaching standards and had outdated electrical, plumbing and heating systems. The funds from the bond issue have provided our students with high-quality learning environments equipped to prepare them to meet the challenges of the 21st century and to compete with their peers across the country and around the globe.

After the 2002 bond referendum, the Richland One Board of School Commissioners appointed a citizens advisory group called the Blue Ribbon Committee to provide oversight of the bond construction program. The district also had a Blue Ribbon Committee for the 1996 referendum projects.

Blue Ribbon Committee members include representatives of various community constituencies and geographical areas of the district. They receive regular briefings from district staff on the status of the construction projects, financial issues and other related matters. Members serve until the completion of the referendum projects.

Committee Chairwoman Betty Gregory says there is a lot of excitement as the projects near their completion.

"The quality of the construction has created a wonderful learning environment for our students," she said. "The community as a whole should be very proud of what they have accomplished and the vision they had for our district. It’s a commendable accomplishment for our community. These are beautiful, quality facilities all the way around and they were done at a bargain considering construction costs today."

The district has completed 13 of the 17 construction and renovation projects, including upgrades to athletics stadiums and fields. The four remaining projects - Alcorn Middle, Columbia High, A.C. Flora High and C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy - are expected to be completed by May 2010.
Following is a snapshot of Richland One’s "Schools for the 21st Century" projects (as of July 2009):

COMPLETED PROJECTS
	Crayton Middle School
	Gibbes Middle School
	Hand Middle School
	Hopkins Middle School
	W.A. Perry Middle School
	St. Andrews Middle School
	W.G. Sanders Middle School
	Heyward Career and Technology Center
	Dreher High School
	Eau Claire High School
	W.J. Keenan High School
	Lower Richland High School
	Upgrades to athletics stadiums and fields

OPENED IN FALL 2009

W. G. Sanders Middle School
W.G. Sanders Middle School students started the 2009-2010 school year in a newly renovated building. Sanders has been relocated to the former site of Keenan High School on Pine Belt Road (the new Keenan High School is on Pisgah Church Road). Renovations and additions that have transformed the facility into a middle school. New administrative and fine arts areas have been added to the campus and the remainder of the facility, including classrooms, has been renovated.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Alcorn Middle School
Projected completion date: May 2010
Additions include new classroom wings, an auditorium and performing arts wing. Renovations to the fine arts area, media center and cafeteria have begun. The new classroom wings have been completed and occupied. Upgrades will be made to the school’s plumbing, heating/air conditioning and electrical systems.

Columbia High School
Projected completion date: May 2010
Renovations to the cafeteria, practice gym and media center are completed and occupied. Renovations of the fine arts wing and administrative area are under way. New classrooms, two science labs and a performing arts area will be added to the campus. Site work, concrete, masonry, roofing and interior finishes also are planned. Upgrades will be made to the plumbing, heating/air conditioning and electrical system.

A.C. Flora High School
Projected completion date: May 2010
The third and final phase of A.C. Flora’s construction/renovation process includes a new gym, auditorium and athletics fields. Phase I, which was completed in August 2005, included site utilities and demolition of designated buildings. Phase II, completed in 2007, included construction of a new administration and classroom building, as well as renovations of the existing science building, media center and cafeteria.

C.A. Johnson High School
Projected completion date: May 2010
Classroom renovations began during summer 2009. Expansion of the new school cafeteria is completed. Additions planned for C.A. Johnson include a new auditorium and competition gymnasium. Major renovations and conversions will be made to the existing PE area, fine arts wing and selected classrooms. The school’s plumbing, heating/air conditioning and electrical systems also will be upgraded.