New Athens Bible School on schedule

Published 6:30 am Tuesday, September 18, 2018

With a little more than three months before their scheduled opening date in January 2019, the new Athens Bible School going up on U.S. 31 is progressing on time and under budget, said Lynn Persell, chairman of the building committee.

Since The News Courier last published an update on the school in May, Persell pointed out the exterior brick work is complete as are all exterior windows. Sod, drainage, curbs and gutters are currently being installed around the perimeter of the school, which is across the street from the new Athens High School.

Almost completely under roof except for the gymnasium and dining hall, workers are installing ceiling grid in the elementary wing of the school and electrical wiring is being run throughout. Additionally, sheet rock is going up in areas throughout the school and several classrooms in the elementary wing have been painted. Exterior doors are going up at the south end of the building and workers are installing frames for interior windows.

The dining hall will be finished by the time the school open its doors, but Persell said the commercial kitchen will have to wait until they get more funding. For now, the school will either cater student lunches or students will have to bring their own.

Coming in at just under $12.5 million in projected costs, with less than 1 percent in change orders so far, Persell said he was delighted that they have been able to stay within budget, giving credit to the school’s architect, McKee and Associates; the builder, First Team Construction; and careful planning by the school’s board and building committee.

Once completed, the 62,000-square-foot private Christian school will include separate wings for elementary and high school grades, a chapel, regulation gymnasium, dining hall and an administrative suite.

Featuring a full-basketball court, bleachers on either side, an attached state-of-the-art weight room and a much-anticipated air-conditioning system, the gymnasium will allow for several sporting events at once. Located next to the gym, concrete reinforced locker rooms and hallway space will double as an emergency safe room for up to 580 people.

“The safety of our students and staff is critical,” Persell said. “That is why we included the safe room and other features, such as exterior doors, that can only be accessed with keycard.”

A massive, acoustically sound media room divides the elementary and high school wings. Stretching to the south, the high school wing will include a vented science lab, separate music and art room and roomy classrooms. Still under construction, the open air courtyard behind the south wing will feature landscaping, outdoor seating and the school’s legacy garden.

Located in the heart of the school, the chapel will seat 428 people, nearly 100 more than the current chapel at the old building. With exposed ceiling beams and cast stone pillars, the chapel will also be used for school plays and other school-related events.

Eventually, Gayle Hagewood, assistant director of development for the school, said they hope to rent the chapel out for events such as weddings.

Included in the $12.5 million price tag are the baseball, softball and soccer fields, which Persell said won’t be quite ready when the school opens in January.

Plans are also underway to start a Pre-K program at the new school in fall 2019.

Persell also addressed concerns over the increased traffic that will be generated by the two new schools, pointing out that he and his committee have worked closely with the superintendent of Athens City Schools, Dr. Trey Holladay, to stager school start and dismissal times.

The plan, for now, is for ABS to start and dismiss slightly earlier than AHS, Persell said, adding a turn- out lane located north of the school’s campus will help divert ABS traffic from the shared stop light that will soon be installed on U.S. 31 at the main entrance of AHS.

As for the old school building on Hoffman Street, Persell said they want to sell it as soon as possible so they can roll any profits into the purchase of the new school.

When it comes time to relocate, teachers, parents and volunteer community members will work in shifts to move everything from the old building to the new one. Persell Lumber and Mill Shop, the company Persell owns, will provide all of the moving equipment and vehicles for the move.

“Everyone is extremely excited about the new school,” Persell said. “They feel very fortunate to have a nicer facility to come to, and it’s heartening for me to see that.”