Southside auditorium will not be complete before school reopens

The Grady County Board of Education learned Tuesday night that the renovation of the historic Southside Elementary School auditorium will not be completed prior to the opening of the 2016-2017 school term, but the contractor will be moving out of the front of the school to allow access to parking in front of the school.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kermit Gilliard updated the board members this week on the delays on the project.
“It is coming along, just slower than we would like. It will not be completed by the start of school, but the front of the building will be cleared and they will move out the construction trailer by next week,” Dr. Gilliard said.
The superintendent said the remaining work was “minor” but there were several things left to be completed.
He also updated the board members on the “ABC” project at Southside. According to Dr. Gilliard, the footers are complete for the “C” building which will be the new media center and crews are preparing to reinstall playground equipment that was removed to make way for the new construction.
“We are hopeful all of the playground equipment will be back before the opening of school,” Dr. Gilliard said.
In related news, the superintendent reported that block work is already underway on the new Cairo High School College & Career Academy facility. Dr. Gilliard also said he would begin sharing with the board members a copy of a weekly report that he receives on the status of the new CHS facility from the general contractor.