Brandon Huber (left) entertains himself as his brother Jesse and mother Patricia, PTA president for Terrace Manor, look over one of the plans being considered for the new school at Fort Gordon. TODD BENNETT/STAFF

Parents pick design for school

Most choose layout of Sue Reynolds Elementary for new Fort Gordon facility

Web posted May 10, 2000

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By Charmain Z. Brackett
Correspondent

The lot on Fort Gordon's Avenue of the States bears a sign proclaiming it as the site of a new Richmond County elementary school.

Although construction is probably more than a year away, the school came one step closer to reality as parents helped choose its design at an open forum Tuesday at the fort's Darling Hall.

``I finally decided to do that one,'' said parent Patricia Huber, pointing to plans for the new Sue Reynolds Elementary School, the design most of the parents chose.

The Richmond County Board of Education offered three drawings for the school, including plans for the new Sue Reynolds Elementary, McBean Elementary and Hephzibah Elementary.

Sue Reynolds Elementary has a windmill design with administrative offices, media center, physical education room and lunchroom in the front of the building and three classroom wings jutting from the school's center, resembling wheel spokes.

Pupils who live on post are bused to Terrace Manor Elementary School on Tate Road near Lumpkin Road.

``The zoning was decided in the 1960s,'' said Pat Buchholz, Fort Gordon's strategic management officer, who has worked closely with the school board on the school's planning.

It takes about 25 minutes to drive from Fort Gordon to Terrace Manor Elementary. Boundaries for the attendance zone have not been changed even though newer schools -- Jamestown, Tobacco Road and Glenn Hills elementaries -- are closer to Fort Gordon.

``My daughter goes to Terrace Manor and spends two hours a day on the bus,'' said Sgt. David McNease, who also preferred the Sue Reynolds design.

The new on-post school will be paid for through the county's penny sales tax, Ms. Buchholz said. She said she would have a letter to Richmond County schools Superintendent Charles Larke today to inform him of the decision.

Dr. Larke is expected to make an announcement regarding the Fort Gordon school design at Thursday's school board meeting, she said.

Reach Charmain Z. Brackett at (803) 441-6927.