Second graders Kaylee Billie and Braxton Anderson show off two of several new doors installed at Neshoba Central Elementary School as part of Phase 2 of a major renovation project.
A $3 million major improvement project is nearly complete at Neshoba County Schools, the second of a three-phase renovation which spans campus-wide.
The project includes additional new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, new windows and exterior doors and additional restroom upgrades.
The $2,966,000 bid was awarded to Mayrant & Associates of Jackson.
Neshoba County Superintendent of Education Lundy Brantley said the project is nearly 95 percent complete.
The biggest remodeling was to the elementary auditorium, where new HVAC was added.
“We also increased the number of stalls in the bathrooms in the auditorium,” Brantley said. “The work was scheduled to be completed by the end of December but there were delivery delays. The construction company has been outstanding. When they get things in, they go to work. They do really well.”
Exterior doors were replaced at the middle and elementary schools. There were bathroom renovations, new HVAC and window replacements in the middle school physical education dressing room.
New HVAC and window replacements were also done in the weight room, agricultural shop and the manufacturing and innovation center.
The project was paid for with federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds which address the impact of COVID-19 on schools. The funds are part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act passed by Congress.
Dr. Brantley said the money had to be used to prevent, prepare for or respond to COVID.
“We have been able to do some things that we have wanted to do for a long, long time,” he said. “There were a number of things done in Phase 1 including remodeling of the bathrooms at the elementary school.
“That’s something we’ve been wanting to do for many years. Thankfully, we have been able to use our money to do that. It’s been good for our kids, good for our staff.”
Phase 1 also included new HVAC systems in the high school gym and old physical education gym.
Burks-Mordecais Builders Inc. of Columbus was awarded that contract for $2,566,000.
Story and photos by Debbie Burt Myers
