Architectural plans for an estimated $2.5 million upgrade of Falkville High School received a thumbs up from the Morgan County School Board at a work session on Thursday.

Walter McKee of McKee & Associates, a Montgomery-based architectural firm, reviewed a proposed layout for the renovation project with board members. It encompasses the addition of six new classrooms, administrative offices and two new restrooms and a visitors locker room at the football field.

“The school building additions are designed to fit the existing property,” said McKee.  “We want the façade of the building to look a lot like it did before changes were made.”

“The field house upgrade is a summer project,” said construction manager Kevin Gunnison of Volkert Inc. “It will be completed before next football season.”

Gunnison said plans for the school renovation have been submitted to the Alabama Building Commission and are expected to be put out for bids in August.

“We’re going to gut out the old classrooms and offices and completely renovate them,” said Superintendent Bill Hopkins, Jr. “This is not a paint-=up, fix-up job.

Falkville High Principal Glenn Lang said he welcomes the new facilities and looks forward to putting them to good use.

“Plans call for additional phases of construction when funding is available,” he said. “This will bring all classrooms under one roof and make the school safer for our students.”

Falkville High was constructed in the 1930s and is the school system’s oldest high school.

In another matter, the board approved taking money from the reserve fund to pay off a $3.2 million school bond.

The board acted on other matters as follows:

•Approved four field trips requests as follows: 21 Priceville girls basketball players to travel to Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. to attend a team camp June 12-14; 15 girls basketball players from West Morgan High School to a WNBA game in Atlanta, Ga. June 20; two FCCLA students from West Morgan High School to compete in the national FCCLA competition in San Antonio, Texas, July 5-12; and 127 third grade students at Priceville Elementary to travel April 21 to see Ruby Falls, Tennessee Aquarium and an IMAX movie in Chattanooga, Tenn..

•Approved a contract for services with Elva Terry to provide nursing services for the West Morgan High Band’s Magic Kingdom March in Orlando. Fla.

•Approved social studies textbooks and programs for use in Morgan County Schools.

•Approved a request form West Morgan High School to use the school’s gyms for an individual skills basketball camp for grades 2-8 June 3-13.

•Approved a contract for services with James Wray to provide the following services: painting. Installing filters and general maintenance on an as-needed basis for Morgan County Schools.

•Approved a project to repair and upgrade the waste disposal system at Sparkman School by Perry Contracting for $41,75139.

•Accepted a $105,099 bid from Mobile Fixtures for a walk-in freezer with shelves and a walk-in cooler with shelves for Falkville High School.

•Approved amended board polices pertaining to the school calendar and school system organizational plan.

Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. recommended and the board approved the following personnel items:.

•Accepted a notice of retirement from Beverly Thompson, a teacher at Danville Middle School, effective June 1.

•Approved an employee supplemental non-staff contract with Brock Alan Garrison as assistant boy’s soccer coach at Danville High School, effective for the 2013-2014 contract year.

•Accepted a notice of retirement from Bruce Sparkman, principal at West Morgan Middle School, effective July 1.

•Accepted a notice of retirement from Kathy Campbell, band director at Lacey’s Spring/Union Hill Schools and assistant band director at Brewer High School, effective June 1, 2014 .

•Accepted a notice of retirement from Jeanette Peebles as a bus driver at Priceville High School, effective May 31.

•Accepted a notice of retirement from Betty Rasco, library media specialist at Lacey’s Spring School, effective June 1.

•Accepted a notice of retirement from Theresea Goode, a teacher at Danville Middle School, effective June 1.

•Accepted a notice of retirement from Gail Ayres, a library media specialist at Falkville Elementary School, effective June 1.

•Approved a transfer for Karen Childers from part time to full time CNP worker at Cotaco School, effective April 11. She is replacing Pattie Childers who transferred.

•Approved an employee supplemental contract with Mallory Alberti as assistant softball coach at Falkville High School. Effective for the 2013-2014 contract year.

•Approved an employee supplemental non-staff contract with Robert Slack as an assistant softball coach at Falkville High School, effective for the 2013-2014 contract year

ªApproved a catastrophic leave of absence for Carol D. Burgess, a CNP worker at Falkville High School, effective Feb. 25, thro1h March 1.

•Approved the employment of Randall McCutcheon as network administrator at the central office, effective April 11. This is a new position.

•Accepted the resignation of Lane Alexander as principal at Lacey’s Spring School, effective at the end of his current contract.

•Accepted a notice of retirement from Larry Carlisle as a media specialist at Brewer High School, effective May 30.