The new granite Mount Airy High School sign has been attached to the front of the building and is awaiting final caulking and cleaning. Construction and renovation is now 95 percent complete at the school.
The process of expansion and upgrading Mount Airy High School continues with the placement of the new granite sign over the school’s entrance.
The $3.5 million renovation and expansion project is nearing completion, according to Mount Airy City Schools Assistant Superintendent Brian W. Taylor, and although the project has run longer than a second week in April forecast by Taylor it is in the final stretch. Recent progress reports indicate that the work will be finished under budget and on time as projected by the contracting firm. The school, which was built in 1951, will be expanded by the improvements and many common areas will be upgraded.
“This will breath new life into an old building,” said Taylor. “The project is roughly 90 to 95 percent complete.” He added that the work on the interior of the school is basically complete and only lacking some final inspections. Taylor explained that the bulk of the work remaining is finishing the installation of the Granite surround, landscaping, painting and curbing.
The effort has included using fill dirt to raise the elevation at the front of the building and constructing a new entrance for students and guests. The media center for the school will be double its original size.
Earlier, the school’s cafeteria and auditorium were renovated to accommodate students more easily and update the equipment and technology in both the areas. For instance, the school is using geothermal heating and cooling for energy efficiency.
Taylor explained that funding for the 8,000 square-foot expansion is through a combination of low interest bonds and with money from the North Carolina Education lottery. He added that Surry County commissioners had adopted the project and then sold bonds to help fund it but no loans were taken out on the project.
The prime contractor is Vannoy & Sons of Jefferson. Taylor praised the perseverance of Principal Sandy George and her staff and students for enduring the numerous projects over the past few years. He said their flexibility and willingness to work and do their jobs with all that has been going on is commendable.
“We’re just focused on school,” said George. “We have students graduating here that have not known anything but construction. We’re not complaining, we are grateful, but this has been going on for more than seven years.”
Taylor said that he expects the project to be completed in the next two weeks but scheduling will probably push the official open house to be held on May 17.
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