Groundbreaking for new school facility is Thursday
Grady County will play host to Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle tomorrow when he travels to Cairo for the official groundbreaking for the new Cairo High School College and Career Academy.
The festivities are set to begin at 1:30 p.m.
As Georgia’s 11th lieutenant governor, Cagle launched the Georgia College and Career Academy Network, a partnership between local community leaders, school systems and the Technical College System of Georgia.
“The College and Career Academy project champion in Georgia is Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. Without his support, none of this would be possible and we are so fortunate to have him come to Grady County to celebrate this momentous occasion with us,” Cairo High School College and Career Academy CEO M. Todd Gainous said last week.
The Grady County School System was awarded a $3.15 million grant from the state for the College and Career Academy project. The new facility will soon be a reality thanks to the grant and local funds.
The College and Career Academy is governed by a board of directors. Directors include Chairman Dr. Ann Landis, Vice Chairman Jennifer Hand, Lt. Commander Alex Baker, USN Ret., Laura Brown, Otis Byrden, Marty Cannington, David Coleman Sr., Blair Dickinson, Joyce Halstead, Bridget Ranson, and LaDon Toole.
Those who are expected to speak at Thursday’s ceremony, in addition to the lieutenant governor, include Grady County School Superintendent Dr. Kermit Gilliard, Cairo High School Principal Chris Lokey, Technical College System of Georgia Executive Director Mark Peevy, State Representative Darlene Taylor, and State Senator Dean Burke.
The new facility is being constructed by PDC Construction Inc., of Bainbridge at a contracted price of $5,094,225.
The new facility is expected to be completed in time for the opening of the 2017-2018 school term.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. Parking is available in the student parking lot and light refreshments will be served at a reception following the ceremony in the lobby of the CHS gymnasium.
