New school could be ready by January
Published 2:38 pm Monday, October 5, 2009
- A painter puts color onto a wall in the half-finished auditorium of the new Gardendale High School. Officials say the construction should be complete in time for students to start class in the new building in January 2010.
By Melanie Patterson
The North Jefferson News
A handful of teachers did not even seem to notice the dust and ongoing construction this week at the new Gardendale High School.
Part of a group touring the school Tuesday, art teachers Kim Huey and Mohammad Dolatabadi saw the inside of the new facility for the first time, including their future classrooms.
“In one word, it’s amazing,” said Huey. “I’m excited about the many ways the new school will expand and enrich the art curriculum for my Art 1 students.”
Huey has taught at Gardendale for four years. She teaches six Art 1 classes.
She is looking forward to having a larger art room with more storage and sinks. Also, the new school has a kiln room, which the existing school does not have.
Another north Jefferson County school will also be opening soon. Corner High School principal Ronald Cooper said Friday the school could be ready by January, but it will more likely be March or April before the new school on Warrior-Jasper Road is move-in ready.
“It’s moving along real well,” he said.
So is Gardendale High School. Employees and volunteers are scheduled to make the transition to the new building during Christmas break.
Students will start the second semester in a new building with all new furniture and equipment.
The Jefferson County Board of Education on Sept. 24 approved spending $800,000 for principal Dr. Anna Vacca’s “wish list” that included new desks, lab equipment, computers and 42 Smartboards at Gardendale High School.
Jefferson County Board of Education member Karen Smith Nix said the existing furniture and equipment at Gardendale High School will be recycled to other Jefferson County schools.
“We really didn’t want to open these beautiful new schools and bring in old furniture,” said Nix. “It basically sets a precedent for all the new schools. We’ve been adamant from day one that they all would be equal.”
Nix said the board has not voted on new equipment at the other new high schools. She said the board has not yet seen the wish lists from those principals.
In addition to the BOE building new schools at Corner and Gardendale, officials will break ground on Tuesday in Kimberly for the new Mortimer Jordan High School.
