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Charlotte County Public Schools (CCPS) is making progress on its Phase II renovations of Bacon District Elementary School.

Contractors moved forward with demolishing two classrooms at Bacon District starting during Christmas break.

Plans now call for construction to begin on a cafeteria and four classrooms in February.

“I feel good with the process so far,” Bret Arbogast, executive director of operations with CCPS, said.

Arbogast said construction of the cafeteria and classrooms is expected to be completed June 11.

Once completed, the demolition of the front portion of the school will take place.

According to Arbogast, it was more economical to demolish and construct a new front entrance of Bacon District than to renovate the building.

“During the planning phase of this project, we had two main concerns. The existing structure materials and structure of the facility,” Arbogast said. “We could not afford either of these to increase in cost to the county. So looking at the safest route, we started to discuss actuals that we could control.”

Arbogast said It was at this time CCPS determined that demolishing the structure and building new was cheaper than renovating the facility.

The decision reduced the overall costs of the proposal by $2 million. 

“So you’re getting brand new, instead of renovated, and reducing the overall costs,” he said.   

Phase II is a continuation of renovation projects at both Bacon and Phenix elementary schools.

Phase I of the school’s construction project included the addition of classrooms at Phenix Elementary and gymnasiums at both Phenix and Bacon.

In November 2019, Project Manager A. Hunter Wilson with OWPR, an architect and engineering firm from Blacksburg, presented a facilities condition assessment report during a joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors and the School Board.

The 108-page report noted a projected total cost of $3,324,975 for Phenix and $6,788,693 for Bacon.