Another new Cherokee County elementary school is in its early stages of construction, and others are continuing to progress at the expected pace.

Clearing on the site for a new school on Hunt Road in southwest Cherokee County has begun, according to school district officials.

Lead Construction Supervisor Phil Parrott said he anticipates the facility's footings will be installed during the first half of December. The school is scheduled to open in August 2011.

A $15.4 million contract was awarded in August to Evergreen Construction to build the facility.

It's the fifth time the district has partnered with Evergreen in its projects. Along with the Univeter Road elementary school site also under construction, Evergreen built Knox Elementary in Canton, Avery Elementary and the newer portion of Clayton Elementary.

"It's just worked out that way," Parrott said, adding Evergreen's price, quality and standards have continuously been impressive.

Hunt Road intersects with Highway 92 in southwest Cherokee County. Students living in the area currently attend Oak Grove Elementary.

JKH Architects, the same company that designed Knox, also will design the Hunt Road facility. The same design used for Knox Elementary and the new elementary school under construction on Univeter Road will be used.

The building, which will sit on about 43 acres, will be 134,824 square feet with the capacity to hold 1,250 students. The building will have 77 instructional units, a mechanical mezzanine above the ceiling, a media center, computer labs, a gymnasium and art/music rooms.

The Univeter Road elementary school being built near Canton also is coming along smoothly, Parrott said.

Ninety-five percent of the building's footing is complete and most of the building's walls already have been erected.

"It's coming along real well," Parrott said.

Construction Supervisor Jim Sarks added the steel and trusses are being erected, and the brick veneer is being installed.

The school board in February approved a $17.6 million contract with Evergreen Construction to build the 140,000 square-foot building, which sits on 41.45 acres.

Once finished, it will have 77 instructional units, a media center, cafetorium, two art rooms, two music rooms, two computer labs, a gym, a mechanical mezzanine in a corridor above the hallways and a family living center for special-needs students. Outside, the school will have a basketball court, two playgrounds and open green field space.

The facility is scheduled for occupancy in August 2011, and the opening could impact any school boundaries that are contiguous to the property. Holly Springs and Hickory Flat elementary schools are closest to the Univeter Road site.

Final punch list items at the new addition being constructed at R.M. Moore Elementary in Waleska are being checked.

Once that's complete, Parrott said the district would move in furniture and wax the floors. Parrott said that stage could begin later in the fall.

The 24,052-square-feet addition will contain 26 classrooms. One part will be for grades kindergarten through third grade and the other part is for grades fourth through sixth.

Headley Construction was selected to build the addition. The $3.5 million facility is scheduled for occupancy in August 2010.

The district's new high school also is nearing its final stages of construction.

At the River Ridge High School site in southeast Cherokee County, the primary focus there is finishing the building itself, Parrott said.

Crews are working on the interior walls and installing the mechanical and electrical systems, according to Parrott.

Also, fire sprinkler and HVAC system installations are all ongoing, he said.

The $55.3 million project built by Barton Malow Construction Services will be ready to hold between 1,800 and 2,000 students when it opens in August.