Renovation plans for Fair-Oak Elementary

Plans to renovate Oconee’s Fair-Oak Elementary School were detailed last night to the county school trustees. In a presentation by members of the Columbia architect firm Jumper Carter Sease, the trustees were told they can expect new classrooms, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium to be among the improvements undertaken by Trehel Corporation, the district’s construction management company. Although trustees have budgeted $6 million for the project, they were warned last night by administrator Steve Hanvey to anticipate a total price tag of something in excess of $6 million. Hanvey, the school district’s assistant superintendent for operations, described Fair-Oak as one of the district’s poorest-performing schools when it comes to energy efficiency. And that, he said, will be addressed during the renovation project. According to Hanvey, Fair-Oak’s energy costs run 40 to 45% higher than the district’s Ravenel Elementary School.