During the summer, students go through some changes and sometimes so do the school buildings they left behind.

Below are a few of the construction highlights that took place at local schools during the summer. Some may impact pickup and drop-off areas, but most projects will be done before school starts.

Floyd Schools

Construction has begun on the new Model High School, which is expected to be ready for the 2010-2011 school year. Two wings of the old school have been torn down to make room for the new building. Parking will be slightly limited for high schoolers.

At Model Elementary School, which sits beside the high school, a new exit road has been paved to allow for smoother traffic flow in and out. The cost of the road came out of the budget for the new high school.

The cost of Model High School has been set at $27.2 million. It is being paid for by a special purpose, local options sales tax, which Floyd County citizens passed in September 2008.

At Model High, all traffic entering the campus will be using the entrance on Barron Road beside the school, next to the football stadium. All parking will be in the rear of the school. 

Student drop-off and pickup will also use the Barron Road entrance, with students being dropped off or picked up on the right side of the gym.  Those dropping off students will need to turn around in the parking area behind the school and exit on Barron Road. 

Only buses will be allowed to go around the back of the school and exit in front of the school. 

Construction at Model High will also obstruct the old exit from Model Elementary so a new entrance and exit has been built for parents. Parents are asked to use the new entrance located in the middle of the school property.  The old entrance to Model Elementary will now be used for bus traffic only.

Rome Schools

The biggest project undertaken by Rome City this summer was the renovation of the Rome High swimming pool, which had not been drained in 17 years.

The Olympic-size swimming pool is being converted to a saltwater system from a chlorine system. The total cost for updating and fixing the pool is approximately $102,000. It should be finished by early September.

Another project, costing $61,665, is the addition of acoustic wall panels to the gym at Elm Street Elementary. Teachers and administrators will return to school to find new computers at a price tag of $215,000.

Berry Elementary, Middle Schools

Berry College’s main campus is bustling with construction and renovation projects, but according to Berry Elementary and Middle Schools Director Paul Atkinson, there have been a few updates to the grade school campus.

Renovations at the library include removing carpet and restoring the original hardwood floors to the building. Also the 21 computers in the computer lab will be replaced.

The greenhouse, which will not be complete before school begins, is being dedicated to Monica Nichols, a former Berry Elementary teacher who died from cancer in January 2008.

Darlington Schools

This summer Darlington completed a $21-million Middle School facility. The project was funded by donors.

For pickup and drop-off, parents should circle around the back of the new building so students can unload in the right lane closest to the building. Buses will unload in the left lane.

Unity Christian School

While things have remained quiet for most of the summer, according to Communications Director Kevin Crawford, the school is creating a training facility in the warehouse side of the building on Ga. 53.

The training area will be 30,000 sq. ft. and consist of weightlifting equipment, indoor turf and batting cages. Construction won’t interfere with academic classroom space.

When classes start

Monday — Rome, Floyd County schools

Aug. 7 — Berry Elementary/Middle

Aug. 10 — GSD, St. Mary’s

Aug 13 — Unity Christian; Montessori School of Rome (new students)

Aug. 14 — Montessori School of Rome (returning students)

Aug. 17 — Darlington School