New FCHS Ag Barn Expected to be Completed Next Month

The new Supervised Agriculture Experience barn at Franklin County High School is due to be completed by next month.

Assistant School Superintendent of Operations Carl Dekker gave the Board of Education and Superintendent Melanie Burton-Brown an update last week on the progress of the new ag barn.

“The roof went on and they continue to work on the inside of the small animal barn,” he said. “The material for the large animal barn just came in and they’ve started to put in the footers, weather permitting. At this point, we’re looking at mid-July, around July 21, 22 is when they believe they’ll be finished with that project.”

Located on property across from the high school, the new SAE barn is being paid for with SPLOST funds and will give students interested in farming hands-on experience in raising and showing large and small livestock.

The barn actually consists of two barns, a small barn to house small farm animals and a large barn for larger livestock.

Plans also call for an outside practice ring, and an entry room with lockers and bathrooms for students as well as a storage area.

Dekker also gave an update on the progress of the new elementary school.

“They have been grading for the last week or two. So they’re working away on that project,” he said.

Other projects this summer, Dekker said, is the replacement of the roof and heat pump at the Middle School and making improvements to the sidewalks there.

Additionally, he said maintenance crews have been working to clean and sanitize every school and classroom to get them ready for the new school year.