Principals named, construction of new schools on track

June 17– Construction of two new elementary schools is on pace to be complete in time for a later than usual first day of classes on Aug. 25, Hardin County Director of Schools John Thomas said.

Renovations and expansions at existing facilities is also "still on track," he said.

A now-resolved funding disagreement between the city of Savannah and Hardin County is delaying the start of the 2010-2011 school year.

Under intense pressure, the Savannah City Commission ultimately relented and agreed to give $7 million to the county to help cover the cost of the $37 million project that includes building two new 550-student elementary schools.

Five aging schools have been closed. Their students will be consolidated at the new facilities.

Thomas said Todd Buczynski, who was principal at Nixon Elementary, which has closed, will be principal at the new East Hardin Elementary off Florence Road. Mitzi Baker, a teacher at North Elementary, which has also closed, was named assistant principal at East Hardin.

At Northside Elementary, the second new school, Gary Gober, who was assistant principal at Adamsville Elementary in McNairy County, will take the helm as principal. Darrell Stricklin, who previously taught at Hardin County Middle School, will be Northside’s assistant principal.

Also included in the $37 million facility improvements budget is $500,000 for a new bus garage to replace the existing building on Harlem Street.

Thomas said the Hardin County Board of Education has yet to approve plans for the bus garage, but is considering a facility of around 5,000 square feet.

The old Dunbar School gym would be demolished in the process.