Planning for the new music room and classroom renovations at Elizabethton High School are progressing with a groundbreaking expected to be scheduled within the next month.

The construction of the music room would complete the capital projects at EHS that were covered by the latest $5 million bond. The first portion of the project was the start of construction on the new stadium at the school.

The bids for the project will be put out early this month by construction manager GoinsRashCain, Assistant Superintendent Richard VanHuss said. Once the bids are advertised, he expected the process will take two to three weeks before the bids will be collected and reviewed.

After the bids are opened, the maximum cost not to exceed will be set by the Elizabethton Board of Education will be voted on, and then work can start on the new music room and classrooms.

“After that is done, we can set the groundbreaking day,” VanHuss said. “We want to set the groundbreaking close to the time work will actually start on the project so that all of the excitement will still be there.”

Once the bids have been reviewed, the maximum construction cost for the project will have to be set by the board. If the bids are received after the March Board of Education meeting, VanHuss hopes a called meeting will be held to help speed the construction process along.

“We would like for this to be carried out as in as timely a manner as possible,” he said.

Once the board approves the maximum cost, crews could be working at the construction site in 10 days, VanHuss said.

The plans call for a new music/band room to be built on the west side of the campus in the grassy lawn area near the existing band room.

The current band room will be renovated into four classrooms and an additional practice or storage space. The new construction will include a music room for chorus and band practices and an ensemble room for smaller group practice sessions.  The new space will also have two office, a music library and work area and additional storage.

The new space would be more practical, especially for the band students as they move their instruments for practices or performances, VanHuss said.

The plans for the new space include a large storage area for instruments with a roll-up door for the transport truck to back up to.