Matt Cox, Hall County Schools’ Executive Director of Facilities and Construction, says West Hall High School will be the final school to receive a performing arts center. Part of the funding comes from a 9 million dollar bond.
Initially, the bond fund was solely intended to be put towards West Hall’s performing arts center. Cox said it was a good move to also put money towards creating more classroom space as well.
“The expansion becomes band, chorus and the performing arts center, as well as a second art room,” Cox said. “And then what that does is open up the space that the former performing arts center band and chorus were for [more] classrooms, broadcasts video, and some other spaces in there. Additionally, we're replacing the fire alarm, intercom, renovating restrooms throughout the building, and some other miscellaneous renovations.”
Superintendent Will Schofield thanked the board for their continued emphasis on fine arts programs over the years, especially during periods of financial turmoil.
“It was at the peak of the recession 11 years ago that you all doubled down and said ‘we will not be cutting back on fine arts,’” Schofield said. “Every one of our high schools needs to have a world class, performing arts wing. This will be the last of your traditional high schools that has been patiently waiting, and what a difference it's going to make at West Hall High School.”
Cherokee Bluff Middle, Cherokee Bluff High School and Johnson High School received similar renovations. Renovations at Cherokee Bluff Middle and High are expected to be completed by early April.
So far, Johnson High School has installed mansory and put the roof on their upcoming performing arts center. This project is also on-schedule and should be finished in July.
“Just this morning, Principal Edwards from Johnson High School was telling all of his colleagues that it's hard to hard to calculate the smiles, now that the students and faculty are starting to see exactly what's going to happen with that addition,” Schofield said. “[It] pulls that campus all together over at Johnson High School.”
