SPANISH FORT – New school projects in Spanish Fort include renovations and remodeling at the elementary school and improved communication system at Spanish Fort High School in case of an emergency, city and school officials said.
At a recent work session of the Spanish Fort City Council, Shannon Cauley, the district representative to the Baldwin County Board of Education, said work is expected to start this summer on improvements at the elementary school.
At our April 14 board meeting, we did approve the bid for the renovation and remodeling of the new elementary school,” Cauley said. “We will hopefully turn dirt on that this summer when school gets out and the process could be anywhere from 18 months to 24 months depending on weather and storms. Cross our fingers, we all know how the weather on the Gulf Coast is, but I’m excited. It’s going to be. If you’re familiar with the campus, the renovation and remodeling is going on behind the current cafeteria, toward the back of the campus and we will take down all of the flattops and the two-story building. That will provide for much-needed additional parking when we have visitors on campus and teacher parking and things like that. We’re really excited about it and we’re ready to go. This is a project that is long overdue.”
The City Council voted May 3 to approve a new bi-directional amplified communication system at Spanish Fort High School. The system is intended to enhance public safety frequencies and communications on the campus in an emergency.
The system will cost $41,556.28. Mayor Mike McMillan said the cost will be divided between the city and Baldwin County Public School System. “In an agreement with the school board, they have agreed to split the costs with us,” McMillan said.
City Councilman Curt Smith said that while some questions had been raised about whether the system would interfere with Wi-Fi communications at the high school, the improvements should not affect Wi-Fi.
The council also approved an agreement with the Board of Education in which the city could pay the cost of building a women’s field house at Spanish Fort High School at a cost of about $1 million.
Under the agreement, the board will be responsible for the maintenance of the field house and to pay the cost of connecting utilities to the new facility.
