Cobb County schools recently approved one of the many items needed for the estimated $30 million renovation of one of the district’s oldest facilities.
The school board unanimously voted on Aug. 24 to move forward with the demolition of nine classrooms at Osborne High School in Marietta, said Donna Lowry, who is in her final week as spokeswoman for the district.
In all, the plan is to replace 81 classrooms. With an October 2016 enrollment of 2,103 students, this renovation is supposed to prepare the school for future enrollment increases, Lowry said.
The original grounds consisted of 41 buildings when the school was built in 1961; only three other high schools predate Osborne, she said.
The first phase of construction should begin in October, Lowry said, with a new field house, pressbox, stadium concessions space and ticket booth for the baseball stadium. That will be funded by SPLOST IV, or Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
Cobb's current newest high school: Walton opens to Isakson, Handel, hundreds of folks day before classes
Here’s a gist of what else is part of the first phase:
- Building new administration, counseling, English, math, science, social studies, vocation studies, ROTC, art and special education classrooms
- Replacing the older gym with a 3,000-seat gym
- Reconfiguring the front entrance to add more parking
- Consolidating classrooms under one roof with a "more manageable layout"
That’s all set to be completed in March 2018, Lowry said.
The whole makeover, including a new 750-seat theater paid for by SPLOST V, should be done in late 2021, she said.
But to make this happen, it’ll take about 45 portable classrooms to house students throughout construction.
Here's what superintendent Chris Ragsdale had to say the first day of Cobb classes this year:
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