By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
Athens ISD held back-to-back groundbreakings Wednesday to mark the commencement of construction projects at Athens Intermediate School and Athens High School.
As is appropriate for projects intended to benefit students, it was young people who stole the show at both ceremonies. Ten intermediate students and 10 high school students both acted as “ceremonial shovelers” at their respective campuses. The students were clearly gleeful at the opportunity, and both groups managed to get good dirt-pitching height and velocity — attributes that may have made a few of the adults temporarily nervous.
“This marks a new chapter for our district,” said Superintendent Blake Stiles. “We’re excited to see these projects started.”
At the intermediate school, construction is starting on eight additional classrooms. The main campus, cafeteria and gymnasium will also be connected for the first time. With the start of the 2015-2016 school year, the intermediate campus will become an elementary campus with a new name: Central Athens Elementary. Bel Air, South Athens and Central Athens will each house pre-K through fifth grade. The campus realignment is a necessary step toward alleviating overcrowding at the existing elementary schools.
The high school project involves the addition of a new and much larger band hall adjacent to the existing one. Under current conditions, band students are sometimes left with no recourse but to practice in the gym. For the past eight years, the Pride of the Hornets Band has earned the prestigious UIL Sweepstakes Award. To receive this award, a band must take first divisions in marching, concert and sight-reading contests in the same year — a very difficult task. The band is on course for a ninth sweepstakes award, having earned first division already in the regional marching contest.
The total on both projects is approximately $4.7 million, which is being paid for in cash by the district.
