Traditions of Braselton

Gum Springs Elementary

to open next school year

As seen in The Braselton News
Written by Kerri Testament

Construction on Jackson County’s latest school – Gum Springs Elementary School in West Jackson – is moving along.

Dennis Patrick, director of administrative services for the Jackson County School System, said last week that the $13.5 million project is on schedule for opening in a year, for the 2008-200- school year.

Recently, construction slabs and installing plumbing and electrical lines for the new elementary school, Patrick said. Steel has also been raised for the school’s gymnasium and second floor.

During the next few weeks, masonry on the gymnasium will be installed, he added.

Gum Springs Elementary School – which will be the first two-story elementary school for the county school system – will teach students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

The new elementary school will have a capacity of 875 students. The project is being funded by bond money and Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds.

Gum Springs Elementary will be located on 18 acres next to West Jackson Middle School and Traditions of Braselton, Jackson County’s single, largest residential development. A driveway will connect the two schools.

Gum Springs Elementary will have 119,000 square feet, making it the largest elementary school for the Jackson County School System.

This year, West Jackson Intermediate School and West Jackson Primary School will each have six portable classrooms. The new Gum Springs Elementary School will help ease growing student populations at those schools.

The Jackson County School System is also finishing two major construction projects for the new school year – East Jackson comprehensive High School and Kings Bridge Middles School. School starts on August 6.