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The two Bluffton centers will be the district's first schools certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating system. LEED is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of environmentally friendly buildings.
Construction at both schools is 95 percent complete, according to the report. Furniture and technology installation are under way. Each school has received conditional approval from the Office of School Facilities. They also will need permission to occupy from municipal building
inspectors.
The $10 million schools will each be able to hold 300 students in pre-kindergarten through first grade.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be Dec. 7. The ceremony at the M.C. Riley Elementary center begins at 10:30 a.m., and the ceremony at the Bluffton Elementary center begins at 11:30 a.m. Tours will be given at each school.
According to the report to the board, four other construction projects are scheduled to be completed next year:
BLUFFTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Masonry work, roofing and window installation have been completed at the $32 million middle school.
Road work is continuing along Buck Island and Simmonsville roads, and data cabling, interior painting and ceiling grid installation are under way.
An Office of School Facilities inspection is scheduled for Jan. 21.
The school is scheduled to be finished this spring with an opening-day capacity of 850. The expansion capacity is 1,100.
PRITCHARDVILLE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Masonry work is 95 percent finished, and windows are being installed at the Bluffton-area elementary school. Off-site road work is under way, and data cabling is scheduled to start today.
The $22.4 million school will be LEED certified.
Scheduled to be complete this spring, the school will hold 800 students.
BEAUFORT-AREA AUDITORIUM
A performing arts center on the Beaufort High School campus is scheduled to be finished in December. The $9.8 million auditorium will seat
650.
Stage rigging, lighting, ceiling grid and sound system installation are under way. Window installation is complete, and site work is nearly finished.
The final Office of School Facilities inspection tentatively is scheduled for mid-December. Chris Poe, the district's director of facilities and construction, said a ribbon-cutting likely will be scheduled in January.
WHALE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL
Masonry work and roofing at the $35 million high school are nearly completed. Interior painting is under
way.
The 650-student school is scheduled to be completed this summer.
