Work started this week on upgrades at LES (Lakeland Elementary School) including a secure building entrance and parking lot work.
Steve McCain, LES plant manager, today (7.18.18) provided a glimpse of the interior work as well as the cell tower construction and prep work for the classroom/office addition.
Pavement and sod are being removed on the west side of the school to make way for 12 classrooms and office space. The cafeteria will also be expanded.
It’s all part of a $2.7 million project to upgrade the K-4 school and provide more space for students. The budgeted amount for the work, which included eight classrooms, was $3 million. There was an additional bid of $347K for four more classrooms. Because the bid was under the $3 million budget, four more classrooms were added to the project.
Dr. Ted Horrell, Lakeland School System (LSS) superintendent, said 12 classrooms aren’t immediately needed but will give LSS some breathing room.
The secure entrance and parking lot work is to be completed by Aug. 1. The other interior work will not be finished until February.
LES Principal Joretha Lockhart said of the work, “Wow, what an exciting time to be a Lakeland Lion! The new secure entry will make our school a safer learning environment. The construction of the new cafeteria addition and classroom wing will allow us to continue to grow and welcome new little Lions to our wonderful school.
“As LES begins its 18th year, the building will literally transform right before our eyes.
“This project will be fun to watch over the next several months.”
The cell phone tower is expected to be finished before the start of school Aug. 13. The site plan was approved by the City of Lakeland in July 2016. The Lakeland School Board (LSB) approved the cell tower to be built on school grounds in September 2015. At that time, the projection was for LSS to receive about $18,000 annually from the tower.
Mr. McCain said the tower will be fenced.
And construction continues at LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School) where two athletic fields are underway: an artificial turf football field and a regular turf soccer field, both with lights.
Dr. Horrell said the hope is to have some of the end of the season LMPS football games on the home field.
Money to build the fields comes from $3+ million in excess funds left from bond proceeds on building the Middle School in 2017.
