School renovations near completion

For some schools, preparing for the first day has entailed more than waxing floors and hanging posters.

Jill Pickett

Workers position a piece of trim Tuesday as renovations continue at Vine Grove Elementary School.

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Jill Pickett

Renovation of Vine Grove Elementary School continued Tuesday as the first day of school nears.

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Renovation of Vine Grove Elementary School is nearing completion and construction crews are working to get the building ready by Aug. 8.

Teachers can enter the building and begin readying their classrooms Thursday, Principal Greg Sutton said. That date is ahead of the original schedule.

That night, the open house for parents and students is at Valley View Baptist Church in Vine Grove.

Many areas of the building will be ready for the new school year, including classrooms and the library, said Gary Milby, associate superintendent of finance and support services.

The cafeteria should be finished by the beginning of school, but the kitchen will not be, Milby said. Child Nutrition Services will bring food for students until it’s complete, which should be about Aug. 20.

A portion of the gym roof needs to be redone, which will be completed after school begins, he said. Some exterior work on canopies that cover drop-off areas for buses and parents will be finished once the school year begins.

Sutton, who just has taken on the leadership role at Vine Grove Elementary, said target date for completion is Sept. 15.

“The progress is going great,” he said.

Sutton said taking on a new position during a construction project has been a positive experience. Seeing how the building will look has given staff a sense of excitement.

“We realize how good it’s going to be,” he said.

Ongoing renovation of North Hardin High School also saw progress this summer. The band, choral and vocational/agriculture areas of the building were renovated during break and should be near completion, Milby said.

The district plans to renovate the locker rooms and cafeteria, but that won’t begin during the school year.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.