Tallapoosa County Board of Education

Building students today for a better future tomorrow.

Here's the latest on Tallapoosa County Schools' construction projects

A nationwide price surge in building materials has left new construction projects on the table, but in the meantime, the Tallapoosa County Board of Education is working to finish up ongoing projects.

Tallapoosa County Schools superintendent Ray Porter gave an update on activity taking place in Dadeville, New Site, Reeltown, and Camp Hill during a school board work session Tuesday.

"It sounds like folks have been busy," board member Michael Carter said.

Here's the latest:  

Dadeville

The foundation has been laid — literally — for Dadeville High School's field house after several weeks of moving around dirt to keep the building from turning into a swamp (the old field house suffered drainage issues).

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend School's long-awaited auditorium is scheduled for completion one year after breaking ground on the $3.3 million project last summer.

"The Horseshoe Bend auditorium is on schedule now and scheduled to be completed in August," Porter said.

Earlier this year the Tallapoosa County Board of Education also started soliciting bids for exterior renovations and a new HVAC system; the latter will be covered using federal COVID-19 relief funds to improve air circulation.

This month, Porter will also recommend the school board start seeking contracts for a new gym floor for Horseshoe Bend's elementary-aged students. Dadeville and Reeltown elementary schools will also be upgrading their gym floors.

"If Reeltown's going to have a new floor and (Dadeville) is going to have a new floor, the Horseshoe Bend floor is still just a concrete floor," Porter said. "So we're going to bid this and I'll bring up the recommendation to the board."

Reeltown

As Tallapoosa County Schools finishes up construction of Reeltown Elementary School, the school system is in talks with the Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT) over who has to pay for improvements to the intersection of state highways 49 and 120. Porter said he'd sit with the DOT Friday.

 

As for the building itself, "Reeltown Elementary has begun to put the brick facade on the kitchen area of the new school and hang roofing material over the new kitchen area," Porter said. "And the latter part of the building, I think it's section B, is receiving its trusses now. That should finish up within the next ten days and then the building will be in the dry."

Last year the board approved a $12.5 million bid for the new school, to be built behind Reeltown High School, as a much-needed upgrade from the current Reeltown Elementary built-in 1929. Tallapoosa County Schools broke ground on the project last June.

Porter and board member Martin Johnson, who represents Reeltown, also thanked Tallapoosa County commissioner George Carleton Jr. for getting rid of the trailer blighting the entrance to Reeltown High School.  

Reeltown Elementary School

Submitted / The Outlook

An aerial shot shows progress on the construction of the new Reeltown Elementary School building, as of April 6.

Edward Bell

Workers began on the replacement of the Edward Bell Career Technical Center roof in April and are due to finish up on the new skin roof soon, Porter said.

"The skin is attached," he told board members. "Now they'll complete the trim work around the roof area and that should be completed this week."

As of last week, Tallapoosa County Schools is out for summer. The board of education is holding its next regular meeting Monday, June 14 at 5 p.m.

 
 
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