Tennessee elementary school renovations almost complete

Construction crews have completed all but the final elements of the Eagleville School expansion set to be finished next month.

When the renovated school opens for a ribbon-cutting Aug. 4, the K-12 school will have 23,000 new square feet of space that includes science labs, elementary school classrooms, band and choir rooms, and a 400-plus seat auditorium, said Principal Bill Tollett.

"What it does is take eight portables off our campus," Tollett said. "It's allowed our teachers and students to all be in the building."

When completed, the $5.4 million project will add 14 rooms to the campus on Old Highway 99 and include renovations to existing parts of campus, Tollett said.

On Wednesday, construction workers were putting new flooring in a cafeteria that will be expanded through the elimination of a stage once used by drama students. A new bookstore and FirstBank branch will also be on site, Tollett said.

Since the project broke ground last fall, crews have tried their best to work around students during the school year and push to have construction done by the time classes start again, said Trey Lee, Rutherford County Schools project manager. The work is the final phase part of a two-part expansion at the school, he said.

"The bottom line is that this is all about making a good learning environment for the students," Lee said.

While the expanded school will have upgraded science labs and eliminate the need for campus portables, Tollett said students taking fine arts classes would likely benefit the most from the project.

Chorus classes once held at the top of the gymnasium are set to happen in a room specifically designed for music classes. They will also have individual practice space to share with band students, who will also get a specific room for their use.

The new auditorium also will provide a more modern venue for drama students to perform, Tollett said, than with the now-demolished stage once in the cafeteria.

"It's all nice, don't get me wrong," Tollett said. "But the biggest change is for our fine arts classes. It's going to be really nice."

The auditorium that includes dressing rooms and handicapped seating also will be available for community organizations to use, Tollett said.