The Times-Tribune
CORBIN —
By Megan Williamson / Staff Writer
Work has begun on a $3.5 million addition to Williamsburg City School following last Thursday’s demolition of a historic downtown home located next to the school.
Williamsburg Superintendent Dennis Byrd said the house couldn’t be restored and the homeowners volunteered to sell it years ago.
The addition includes a new school entrance that will improve security, Byrd said. Employees will use key cards to enter the building while students and visitors will be routed to a reception desk.
The 18,000-square foot addition will also include kindergarten and preschool rooms, a new computer lab, a business technology classroom, more high school classrooms, a high school art room and an administration office, according to Byrd.
Byrd said other remodeling includes a remodeled science lab, current elementary music and art rooms and nurses station.
Behind the new addition, a new playground will be installed that includes a stationery helicopter, a large jungle gym as well as music and art stations for the children to explore.
An existing smaller house at the location is owned by the school and will be used for storage as well as a bus office.
Byrd said the new geothermal heating and air conditioning system that will be installed will cut the school’s energy costs and will be more environmentally-friendly.
Byrd said he hopes the walls and foundation for the project will be ready before the winter so the construction on the interior can be finished sooner.
Byrd said he hopes the addition will be finished by late next summer.
