Elementary school students
from Benvenue Elementary, D.S. Johnson Elementary and Williford Elementary recently
toured the middle school they will attend
once the former Rocky Mount High School campus is fully converted into a new
middle school. According to Dr. Eric Cunningham, Associate Superintendent for Facilities and Operations and creator of the Junior Foreman program, "Their visit was part of the Junior Foreman program, an initiative designed to help students connect district with core instructional values by focusing on science, technology, engineering and math."
The
Rocky Mount Middle School project is part of the district’s student
reassignment plan, which called for the conversion of the old high school into
a middle school to ease overcrowding at some of the other middle schools in the
district, beginning in fall 2013.
Site Superintendent Steve Richards explained the importance of math in the
construction process to the group of third, fourth and fifth graders. “Math is
the
most important subject to our work,” said Richards. “It helps with laying
out the ceiling grid, cabinetry, flooring—every aspect of construction is
somehow related to math. The demolition notes tell us what needs to be done,
and mistakes can happen if the notes aren’t correct.” Fifth grade student
Christopher Hunt said he enjoyed learning about how construction staff members
are working together to complete the renovations. “There’s one thing that’s
really important and that’s communication,” said Hunt.
Facilities personnel discussed some of the specific renovations, including new ceiling
and floor tiles in the hallways, as well as new lights, and a re-designed media
center with new paint and new carpeting. All classrooms will be painted and some rooms will receive additional
upgrades such as new carpet, floor tile and science casework for labs. The
school’s telephone system will also be upgraded to a Voiceover Internet
Protocol (VOIP) network.
The school district shifted $700,000 from its current expense fund to capital outlay budget to cover part of the expense of the project. The Nash County Board of Commissioners also approved the use of $500,000 in lottery funding to cover expenses of the remodel. Renovation plans took into account specific changes that were necessary to transform the old high school campus into an environment suited for the instructional needs of middle school students.The Rocky Mount Middle School project is expected to be complete by the end of June.
The school district shifted $700,000 from its current expense fund to capital outlay budget to cover part of the expense of the project. The Nash County Board of Commissioners also approved the use of $500,000 in lottery funding to cover expenses of the remodel. Renovation plans took into account specific changes that were necessary to transform the old high school campus into an environment suited for the instructional needs of middle school students.The Rocky Mount Middle School project is expected to be complete by the end of June.
