The fourth and final phase of the renovation plan to Apollo High School are expected to begin in roughly a year. Details for the last stage of the project were discussed during the Daviess County Public Schools Board of Education luncheon Tuesday.
Phase 3 of renovations is well underway and involves a two-story addition that includes new classrooms in the section of the school near the gymnasium entrance. Phase 2 involved turning the old football field into student parking. Phase 1 was erecting the new football stadium.
Mike Ranney, the architect for RBS Design Group, detailed the plans for Phase 4 Tuesday.
The project will include remodeling the following areas: pod A, pod C, pod D, office, commons, library, gym, aux gym, and the band room. The remodeling includes new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing throughout the building. Other items include a new gym mezzanine floor, new gym bleachers, new auditorium flooring, seating, stage lighting, and sound system.
DCPS Superintendent Matt Robbins said the Board knew the project would be a significant undertaking but a good long-term investment.
“It’ll be a little inconvenience (during the renovations), but that’s one of those where the end hopefully justifies the means and we’ll be happy with the product on the back side of that once it’s finished,” Robbins said. “That’s a building that in addition to Daviess County Middle School was our building in highest, greatest need. It feels good to be able to address that and know that the work we’re doing there will put that facility in a great position to be utilized for decades to come.”
Pod B will be removed and renovated into a new cafeteria and kitchen area.
“Everything in there is pie-shaped because of the way you’d break up a circle,” Robbins said, noting the four pods. “The kitchen is obviously very difficult to navigate for workers there. The eating and dining is very inadequate to serve the size of school that we have. That’s a huge plus for us.”
The classrooms will also be renovated for similar reasons, according to DCPS director of finance Sara Harley.
“We are going to go in and remodel those pods,” she said. “We’re going to update some of those rooms and make them more traditional-shaped instead of pie-shaped. When we start the renovations, we’ll move the classes into the (addition from phas three) temporarily. The school will be in flux for the next couple of years.”
Ranney said Phase 4 would have to be done in stages and would take about two years. He said Phase 3 should be completed in August 2021, and they shouldn’t have to wait before beginning the final phase.
The cost of Phase 4 won’t be known until bids are taken next year.
