Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army addressed the crowd of attendees at the April 23 groundbreaking ceremony for the Fort Knox High School stating the $18.1 million project was a symbol of the cooperation of the Army, the Corps and other partners.
Tad Davis, a graduate of the Fort Knox High School said, “When I walked the halls of the high school today, it brought back a lot of fond memories of days gone by.”
Noting the 79 graduates for 2008 netted $5million in grants, Davis said, “I think it is important to continue this legacy of excellence for them and ourselves.”
According to Dr. Fank Calvano, superintendent, the Kentucky district, although the school was already planned, the Base Realignment and Closure restructuring will increase the student body. The school will help to meet this increased enrollment.
The new two-story building will offer a capacity for more than 450 students.
The project will connect the existing vocation school and the current gymnasium. The new school will feature a metal roof, brick facade with masonry accents and recessed lockers to improve movement of students between classes.
The plan calls for replacement of more than 71,500 square feet of the existing high school. The project includes:
• 20 classrooms with 12 computer drops per room
• 900 square feet per classroom
• Two computer labs
• Commons area
• Geothermal heating and air conditioning
• Specialized functional areas for art, band, science labs and technology
The project is expected to be completed in May 2009 with demolition for the existing high school in July/August 2009.
At an earlier event, Sarah Turner, Fort Knox High School principal, talked about the importance of the quality of the school to the Department of Defense Education Activity and students.
“A new high school at Fort Knox will emphasize the importance of providing the best for military children,” Turner said. “An expected outcome will be a renewed sense of pride in their school which enhances the overall high standards that DoDEA sets for every student.”