Construction proceeding on new Hokes Bluff Elementary School

There will be a new Hokes Bluff Elementary School in the near future, according to Dr. Alan Cosby, superintendent of Etowah County Schools, who provided an update on the construction.

“Construction on the school is progressing, with footings and the foundation being completed now,” Cosby said. "The storm shelter foundation is being installed as well. Some masonry work is being completed and the plumbing and electrical being roughed in. We still have some more grading work to be completed."

The old Hokes Bluff Elementary School began life as Hokes Bluff High and was used from 1941 until 1985. It became the elementary school in 2009.

The cost of the new school, which will house all students in the same building, was estimated to be around $12 million initially. However, Cosby said that it will be a bit more than that now.

“The total cost will be approximately $14 million, as this project is over the initial budget, as building costs have risen exponentially over the last several months,” he explained.

It does appear, however, that new school remains on target for its originally scheduled completion date.

“The projected completion is tentatively for spring of 2023,” Cosby said.

The old school had five separate buildings, connected only by a walkway.

More: Community to get final chance to see Hokes Bluff Elementary before demolition, new school

Once completed, the new facility will be state of the art as far as construction and technology. There also will be upgraded security (including an office for a School Resource Officer) and a storm shelter.

In the meantime, Hokes Bluff Elementary has been utilizing portable classrooms, along with available rooms left over from the old school, to house its students.

Cosby also briefly touched on a couple of other projects the school system has been working on.

“We have another project being completed at Whitesboro Elementary,” he said. “Additionally, the board is in the process of air conditioning all competition gyms in the system which, when completed, will give us air conditioning in all of our gymnasiums.”

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Status of Hokes Bluff Elementary updated by Etowah superintendent Cosby