Board approves facility bids, OKs mass grading for new career/innovation center; Clinton Elementary ceiling work passes with one abstention

The Chilton County Schools board approved several facilities and construction items at its May 18 meeting, including painting projects at four schools, a bid labeled for a CCIC project, and ceiling repairs at Clinton Elementary (the ceiling repair vote recorded one abstention).

Board member Ryder said the mass-grading package for the new career/innovation center — sited next to Jefferson State Community College on Highway 145 — has been approved and is the first step in a multi-phase project. Ryder said the center will be approximately 127,500 square feet and that officials hope to release building bids in August. Mr. Parish said Jeff State would provide equipment at its facility and that the college is building a roughly 10,000-square-foot welding shop. He added contractors expected to begin moving dirt "in 4 to 6 weeks."

The superintendent noted that principals submitted wants-and-needs lists for summer repairs and that several large painting projects for two Clinton and two Jemison schools came back under $100,000 each, meaning they require board approval but not formal public works bidding.

Why it matters: Capital projects and maintenance work affect school safety, instructional space and long-range budget commitments. The career/innovation center is a major capital initiative with multi-phase bidding and a planned construction timeline.

What happens next: The district will proceed with the mass-grading work and prepare building bids; facility contracts and repair work will be implemented per standard procurement and project-management processes.