The Long County Board of Education received a report Thursday on the new high school building project.
Project manager Bill Vickery presented the results of the site work proposals. The project is divided into two phases — site work and building construction.
He said phase one was divided into several packages to allow local contractors to send in proposals. Phase two will consist of the actual construction of the school, Vickery said.
The project manager also informed the board of a recent meet and greet, where contractors had the opportunity to review the project to see if they want to submit a proposal.
During the board’s discussion of the project, it was noted that 48 ½ acres will been cleared for the school. In order to stay within the budget, some storm drainage pipe has been eliminated and replaced with ground swells for drainage. It also was noted that site utilities were changed and the amount of paving was decreased to cut costs. The board voted unanimously to approve all of the requested changes.
The board also approved releasing students early Dec. 16 to begin their Christmas break. The measure was approved as a reward for all schools in the county meeting Adequate Yearly Progress standards last year.
Walker Middle School Principal Heath Crane recognized two of his faculty members, Julia Smiley and William Hadley, for being honored by WTOC as hometown heroes.
Smiley, a bus driver and computer lab teacher, received the award for helping a pre-K student who had trouble breathing during an afternoon route. According to Crane, the student’s parents were thankful that Smiley was there to help.
Hadley, a teacher and a coach, received the award for attending to one of his players, who broke his arm while playing football. Crane said Hadley went out of his way to make sure the student was cared for.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Waters updated the board about the final AYP determinations concerning LCHS’s graduation rate for 2011. Waters said the graduation rate initially was 83.3 percent. After summer retests, however, the final graduation rate was 87.9 percent, or a 4.6 increase. The board expressed praise along with hope for continued improvement.
In honor of Veterans Day, Long County schools scheduled special programs Friday. Smiley Elementary School displayed student art projects to honor veterans for the Long County veterans celebration at Veterans Field. Walker Middle School hosted a breakfast for approximately 250 veterans, and Long County High School had an assembly to honor veterans.