Paulding board hears progress on classroom additions, district says 342 classrooms added in five years

Paulding County School District leaders detailed summer construction work and recent ribbon-cuttings during the July 22 board meeting, saying additions and new schools will create hundreds of new classroom seats ahead of the school year.

Superintendent Michael Barnett said the district opened a 16-classroom addition at Roberts Elementary and added 20 classrooms at Northside. He said a new, twentieth elementary school is under construction and, taken together, recent projects have added substantial space without issuing new debt.

"After the opening of our twentieth elementary school next summer, which is under construction right now, we will have added 342 classrooms and almost 450,000 square feet in the last 5 years without incurring any additional debt," Barnett said.

Doug Carey, executive director of facilities maintenance, and Gary Plunkett, executive director of school supports, were thanked for summer capital work that included pool and masonry renovations, classroom additions and paving. District leaders noted construction windows are short in summer and crews worked in phased groups to complete installations and equipment re‑installs, including classroom technology and phone systems.

Superintendent Barnett also addressed safety measures for schools, saying the district installed roadway speed-control measures and deployed a district canine for safety work. "That keeps me in check, and we'll keep everybody else in check," Barnett said in comments referencing speed-control devices and traffic-safety priorities.

Board members praised the facilities teams, noting the ribbon-cuttings as tangible progress for students and staff. Officials said remaining construction punch-list items will be completed before students return and invited the public to upcoming school events and the August 5 board work session.