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A building in Athens that many believe is long overdue opened its doors this week. Athens City Schools Central Office, located at 455 U.S. 31 North, welcomed its first parents looking to register students on Wednesday. School begins Aug. 20.
The new building consolidates the school system’s previous headquarters at the little red schoolhouse on East Washington Street and the offices at Athens Middle School on Clinton Street, creating much-needed space for school employees and giving parents one place to register students or address other school business. All business is now being handled at the new location.
“You can’t say enough for what the board and their vision for this district has been,” said Superintendent Dr. Orman Bridges Jr. “If it hadn’t been for them approving this project we would still be where we were.”
Although heavy winter rain slowed construction of the 17,000-square-foot, steel-framed building, work is almost complete ahead of the August deadline. “There are still some loose ends that have to be tied up,” Bridges said. “The site superintendent is shoring up some of the details.”
Bridges added crews are still working on the front entrance, which includes a turning lane on U.S. 31 northbound at Pryor Street and a de-acceleration lane on southbound U.S. 31 near the building. Access to the building can be made via Pryor and Dexter streets until work is complete.
The central office is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., according to Bridges. All employees have now moved to the new location and computers and telephones are up and running.
The Athens Board of Education will hold its first board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the location.
“We hope to have an open house maybe by the time school starts or the first of August,” Bridges said, adding they hope to schedule it on a Sunday afternoon so it will be a convenient time for people who work.
The central office sits on a 125-acre site that leaves room for growth, including a future high school.
Huntsville-based Pearce Construction is general contractor for the nearly $3 million project, which was designed by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood.
“I think the community is going to be very pleased with what they have for years to come,” Bridges said. “Everybody being in one building is something we have dreamed about. It has been so much easier and so much more efficient. Hopefully this will give a great impression to newcomers in the community as well.”
Local News
Related Photos
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The Athens Board of Education will hold its first meeting in a state-of-the-art boardroom at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the new central office. The office is located at 455 U.S. 31 North. News Courier/Rebecca Croomes
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The central office sits on a 125-acre site that leaves room for growth, including a future high school. News Courier/Rebecca Croomes
Discussion
Athens City Schools Central Office now open for business
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