School Board to Consider Building Uses
By Rob Novit, Aiken Standard, S.C.
Jun. 24–As Byrd Elementary School faculty members prepare to move into their new facility later this summer, the Aiken County Board of Education will consider requests for new uses of the old building at a meeting tonight.
It’s been nearly a decade since the Aiken County School District is replacing an existing school, “but any space in this district doesn’t stay vacant long,” said Deputy Superintendent David Caver.
District administrators are seeking the old Byrd school in Graniteville for adult education and special education instruction and as a “home base” for some itinerant special education teachers.
The School Board will meet at the district office, 1000 Brookhaven Drive, tonight at 7 p.m. The trustees also will give final approval for the 2008-09 budget.
Construction on an addition to Millbrook Elementary School in Aiken has been completed, providing 10 new classrooms and a new cafeteria. Once the furniture is installed, said Caver, new principal Denise Huff, who takes over the position July 1, will work with the teachers to get their personal items into their rooms.
The new Byrd school is still awaiting final inspection. Caver said furniture delivery dates have been set up, as well as tentative schedules for teachers and staff members.
Mobile classrooms at both schools will be transported to other schools in the district. Millbrook is retaining mobiles for its kindergarten students.
In addition to adult education classes at the old Byrd school, the district hopes to provide classrooms for certain special education students who currently receive services outside of a school setting.
“This is a good instructional space for them,” said Caver. “Absenteeism has been a problem, and this could be a solution for that.”
The existing Byrd school also could house child-find screening for special education programs and provide space for itinerant special needs teachers and those who provide Applied Behavior Therapy for those children with autism.”
In other business at the board meeting, administrative appointments are expected, including a new principal at North Aiken Elementary School. The current principal, Dr. Kevin O’Gorman, will become an associate superintendent with the district July 1.
Contact Rob Novit at
rnovit@aikenstandard.com
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