School District Seeks Proposals For New Administration Building

Sign up for the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter!

---

The Cherokee County School District has taken another step in the process to house all of its central office employees under one roof.

District staff members informed school board members at their Thursday work session that an advertisement seeking proposals from general contractors to build a new administrative complex have been published.

Board members are scheduled to consider the proposals at their December 3 meeting.

If that timeline holds, construction could kick off in January, and the complex could be completed by August 2017.

School board members in March approved a land swap agreement with the city of Canton to build the Cherokee County School District Educational Services Facility. In exchange for Buildings A and B in downtown Canton, the district received 16 acres of city-owned property across from the Cherokee County government’s administration building north of RiverStone Plaza.

The new administration building will allow for the reunification of 150 employees from various departments in one more cost-effective facility, and will include an open meeting space for professional development, special events and school board meetings that is significantly larger than current options.

The $15 million project will be funded by Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenue, as previously approved by voters. Estimated costs per square foot are less than similar projects recently constructed in the county, and the design and construction will incorporate the same cost- and energy-efficient elements as featured in newer district schools.

Board Member Mike Chapman stated it makes good business sense to build professional office space for administrative staff and training needs in order to attract and retain the best employees.

“Anyone who sees this plan should understand that,” he said, noting that taxpayers have shown their support through approving the project as part of three Ed SPLOST votes.

Board Member Clark Menard added he is pleased to see that the design allows for some future staff growth, which extends the lifespan of the facility without the need for immediate additions.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said the need for the facility is “long overdue,” noting that the county’s other government entities have made significant investments in infrastructure, while the district prioritized building 19 new and replacement schools to accommodate student enrollment growth.

“It’s always difficult to justify spending on administrative infrastructure, but we can’t be as productive an organization as we have been or hope to continue to be without efficient facilities,” he said. “I think we’ve built a strong case for the need.”

---

Image via Shutterstock