CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Bradley County's school construction year has already begun.
The new year will see a race to beat the clock as a new elementary school, Park View, takes shape on Minnis Road for the 2010-2011 school year.
Meanwhile, workers put the finishing touches on a renovated and expanded Valley View Elementary School before pupils and teachers returned from the winter holiday break.
And preliminary planning is already in place for construction of a fine arts building at Bradley Central High School during 2010.
In the Cleveland City Schools system, a contract was awarded for construction to begin on a science wing at Cleveland High School.
In all, the city and county will have more than $25 million in school construction under way or completed in 2010.
Last week, a number of contractors were working in the old section of Valley View Elementary. The new portion, with six classrooms and a media center, is ready for the second half of the school year.
American Constructors, the general contractor, believes the entire school will be finished within a few weeks.
"We are looking at mid-January to be out of Valley View," said Derek Martin of American Constructors, which also is general contractor for Park View.
Grading and foundation work is already under way at the Park View site. School officials want the school to be ready by the next school year. Cleveland Utilities recently awarded contracts for sewer work leading to the site.
Work at Park View was delayed because of bad weather and problems with soil.
"In January or February, we will have a much better idea," about the timeline for construction, Mr. Martin said.
Architect Angie Lyon, of Kaatz Binkley Jones and Morris Architects, recently presented the county school board with a drawing of what the Bradley Central fine arts building will look like.
"We were very pleased and we are ready to go," said County Schools Director Johnny McDaniel.