renovations

August 3, 2009

To Whom It May Concern:

Pittsylvania County high schools are going through a renovation and construction transformation during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. Many have asked if the buildings and grounds will be ready for the first day of school on August 24, 2009. Thankfully, the answer to this question is a resounding YES!

What can be expected at Gretna High School when everyone returns for the 2009-2010 school year? A completely new main office and guidance suite will greet those who enter the front doors. The new classroom addition will be fully operational and a permanent home for the mathematics and social studies departments and the temporary home of the business department and Cortez Lab. Also, classes initially scheduled to meet in rooms 1-10 can anticipate the excitement of moving into completely renovated classrooms in late September or early October. Students and teachers will enjoy dining in the newly expanded, colorfully decorated cafeteria complete with four (4) serving lines. Of course, as the absence of ceiling tiles in some of the hallways and the constant hum of saws and air compressors will attest, our renovations are not yet complete. As with any transformation, difficulties may arise; however, I am confident that the new and newly renovated areas of the building will prove that the end product is well worth any minor inconveniences along the way.

I have included a schedule for your review that includes the plans for completion of the high school renovation project. You will notice that the work has been divided into phases which include:

PHASE	TIMELINE	CONSTRUCTION PLAN
Phase I	December 2008 – June 2009	New classroom wing and dining addition
Phase II	June 2009 – October 2009 1^st Summer June 2009 – August 2009	Upstairs A-wing Kitchen/dining, administration, library
Phase III	October 2009 – January 2010	Downstairs A-wing and business labs
Phase IV	February 2010 – June 2010	Family and consumer science labs, auditorium and/or band/chorus room and career and technical classrooms
Phase V	June 2010 – October 2010 2^nd Summer June 2010 – August 2010	Career and technical shops/labs Science wing, gym, locker rooms, auditorium and/or band/chorus room

· Phases III, IV and V are likely to be accelerated ahead of the existing schedule.

Traditionally, our high schools have been a source of pride and a symbol of the community’s determination to ensure a brighter future for everyone. According to a National Alliance of Business report, “the second most often cited reason for a business selecting a particular location is the quality of the schools.”

If our students are to compete in a global economy, our investment in education must be sufficient to produce good citizens and a world-class workforce. This includes making investments in school facilities which improve academic achievement, teacher retention, and the health and safety of our students and staff.

May I take this opportunity to say thank you for your support and patience as we move forward to the completion of this important project.

Respectfully,
James E. McDaniel
Division Superintendent