It”s been a busy weekend for Columbus Middle School.
A local architect offered a video presentation from the school, to officials in Jackson County interested in building a new school. School board members got their first walk-through of the 155,000-square-foot facility. And in the coming days, the $19.1 million project will welcome the public for tours.
Those planning to participate in open houses on Wednesday and Thursday won”t be disappointed, said Alma Turner, Columbus Municipal School District board president. Open houses are at 4-8 p.m. both days at the school, located at 175 Highway 373.
“For me, it was a historical moment that I will never forget,” Turner said at Monday night”s school board meeting.
Turner and fellow board members toured the building Sunday afternoon.
“It”s an awesome school and just absolutely beautiful,” Turner added.
The new school, at 175 Highway 373, is slated to usher in students on Jan. 19.
The board also discussed the decision to keep schools closed today, after winter weather swept the area on Sunday and Monday.
Superintendent of Education Dr. Del Phillips noted most city roads seemed clear, as he drove around the city Monday. Others had accumulated water from melted snow.
“We”re not sure what”s gonna happen once that refreezes tonight,” he said, noting “buses weigh a lot,” and even a small slip could be very dangerous.
“We don”t want to put our children or any of our faculty in danger,” he added. “We feel good about (returning to school) Wednesday.”
Today will be cold, with some sun returning, a high of 42 degrees and a low of 19 degrees, according to AccuWeather.com. Wednesday will be mostly sunny and cold with a high of 34 degrees and a low of 19.
In other business, the board:
· Accepted a $600 grant from the Tennessee Aquarium to Stokes Beard Communication and Technology Magnet School, to offset the cost of a field trip.
· Changed the dates of the March and April school board meetings to March 10 and April 14, at 6 p.m. The board usually meets on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at the Columbus Municipal Complex. The rescheduled meetings will meet at the same location.
· Made note of important calendar days, including the superintendent”s evaluation, Saturday, at the Wyngate Inn on Brickerton Street, off Military Road; the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, Jan. 17; the Columbus Middle School ribbon cutting, Jan. 18, at 8:30 a.m.; the first day of school at Columbus Middle, Jan. 19; and the regular February board meeting, Feb. 14.
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