The Apollo High School Phase 3 addition is expected to be completed by the end of the month, meaning it will finally be ready to use when school resumes on Jan. 3, 2022. Progress is also being made on the new Daviess County Middle School, slated to open Fall 2022.
Apollo is in Phase 3 of a four-part renovation that is a major overhaul of the entire campus. The current construction is on the rear end of the building.
Renovations include a new connector from the existing portion of the school to the gym and a connector to the new addition. In Phase 4, another hallway will be added coming into the addition from C pod.
Major features of the new addition include adding wings dedicated to the Engineering Academy and Ag Academy, with each containing three classrooms. The ag wing also has a new horticulture room, ag shop, and an animal science room, while the engineering wing has two engineering rooms and a computer lab.
“It enhances the programs that are already outstanding that we have, such as the Engineering and Agriculture Academies,” Daviess County Public Schools Superintendent Matt Robbins said during a site visit on Sept. 30.. “It allows us to do more and envision more opportunities for our students than otherwise we might be constrained to in the existing environment.”
The DCPS Board of Education received an update on the renovations Tuesday via a written report from David Shutt, director of operations for the district. He said milestones during the past 30 days include the completion of the front canopy and sidewalk and interior finishes to the classroom.
Shutt said the schedule for the next three weeks includes paving the bus loop and the completion of all interior construction work and punch list items. Daviess County Public Schools maintenance personnel will move teacher belongings into the new classrooms during Christmas break.
Apollo’s Phase 4 renovations will begin immediately after Phase 3 is complete. Bailey Bennett, DCPS Construction Coordinator, previously said Phase 4 will include new floors, paint, LED lights, and ceilings; facility upgrades such as science rooms being converted into labs; and a general remodel of facilities such as restrooms and offices.
The new DCMS building, officials have previously said, will be an upgrade to the current building in nearly every way.
One of the biggest features of the new school will be an uncovered 45,750-square-foot courtyard with artificial turf situated in the middle of the campus. The new building design features four corridors that form a square around the courtyard.
The front of the school will face the Fairview Drive extension, which is still under construction.
The gym will be the center of focus along the front of the building. To the right will be the main entrance and front office, along with other staff offices and a 5,308-square-foot media center/library. To the left is a 6,200-square-foot cafeteria along with the kitchen.
The other three corridors share identical layouts, with one each dedicated to 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Each corridor has nine classrooms, two science labs, computer labs, and restrooms.
The building also features an orchestra room in the back right corner, along with an art studio and a digital arts room in the back left corner.
In his report, Shutt said the past 30 days have seen continued progress. The cafeteria roof has been completed and all ground floor concrete slabs have been poured. Window installation in the gym has started, along with spray foam insulation on the masonry block walls.
Shutt said the next 30 days will see continued masonry installation and completion of the quarry tile in the kitchen. Structural beam and roof truss, and roof decking installation will continue. The football field light poles will be set, and paving will start on the drive to the school.
Shutt said the are also currently developing projects for Summer 2022 tht include new flooring for Burns Middle School, along with roofing renovations and Meadow Lands and Tamarack Elementary schools and College View Middle School.
