CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Commission on Education, at a March 24 special called meeting, approved Superintendent Shane Barnette’s request to issue bonds for school improvement projects.
The $15.4 million in bond proceeds will be used along with local funds that have been saved to do several much-needed capital projects. These projects include, but are not limited to:
· Two new roofs at Fairview High (currently in progress)
· Family/Consumer Science & Ag shop remodel at Fairview High
· New gym at Cold Springs High
· New welding shop at Holly Pond High
· New Family/Consumer Science & Ag facility at Hanceville High
· Safety and Entrance upgrades (“store front”) at Vinemont Elementary
· Lunchroom expansion at West Point Elementary/High
· LED lighting upgrades with automatic controls
· Replacing the last window A/C units with more efficient alternatives
· Old window wall replacements at West Point High and Cold Springs Elementary
Construction is already underway on the new classroom and lunchroom additions at Hanceville Elementary, as well as a new office complex and gym at Good Hope Middle. For the first time, all seven of our high school gyms have air conditioning.
Plans are also in the works for new multipurpose facilities on our high school campuses. These facilities will be able to be used by K-12 students for anything from large gatherings to indoor practices to archery tournaments. Our schools struggle to find space to hold practices and other events during inclement weather, so these facilities will also provide that space.
“These are exciting times for our school system,” said Dr. Shane Barnette, Cullman County School superintendent. “Some of these repairs and upgrades have been needed since I was an elementary student here in Cullman County and that’s been a long time ago.”
The bonds will be repaid over a 20-year term, using state-allocated capital improvement funds that the district receives each year from the Alabama State Department of Education.
“As we continue to pay off older bonds from past building projects, we will use the funds, along with local funds we have been saving to make great strides in getting our facilities where they need to be for the future,” said Barnette.
