Jerry Levengood, the director of schools in Rhea County, Tenn.

DAYTON, Tenn. - Enough of the construction dust settled to allow Rhea County High School students to begin classes Friday for their final year in what will become a middle school in 2013.

Director of Schools Jerry Levengood praised high school faculty and staff for their efforts to transition from the summer's remodeling work to preparing for class.

His comments were echoed by Jamie Spencer, construction project manager for contractor Hewlett-Spencer LLC.

"It's amazing to see the difference from three weeks ago to today," Spencer said.

While renovation was going on in the current high school, construction of the new high school has continued on schedule, Spencer said.

Move next year

When the 2013-14 school year begins, the high school will move to its new facility and sixth, seventh and eighth grades from Rhea Central Elementary will move into the renovated building now occupied by the high school.

Work on the new football field is complete and the new track is progressing, officials said. A dedication ceremony for the field will be held just before the first home football game on Aug. 24, Levengood said.

In other matters, board members approved a $31.8 million budget for the coming year.

Finance Director Bill Graham said that figure will grow as federal grants are awarded later in the year. This past year, the federal projects budget totaled $3.7 million, with just $700,000 of that in the budget adopted Thursday.