In its efforts to provide more instructional space for an expanding population of students, the Grenada School District broke ground this week on the first two of a four-phase renovation project at Grenada Middle School.
The renovations begin just five months after the District’s $4.54 million expansion to Grenada Elementary School’s Green Top were finished. The additions were completed to the former fourth- and fifth-grade building on Aug. 6, 2024, making way for third-grade students to move up the hill from the Red Top for this school year. The expansion also allowed for an expanded Pre-K program at the Red Top as well as solving space constraints in that building.
In addition to day-to-day expenses such as instructional salaries reimbursements, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were granted to school districts to assist with expanding needs. The grant funds were awarded to schools to help with the impact of COVID-19. According to GSD Business Manager Rodney Murphy, the District received three major ESSER grants — designated I, II and III — totaling $17,127,465, which laid the foundation for the District’s facility expansions.
Longtime GSD Superintendent Dr. David Daigneault went over in detail the evolution of the District’s construction plans during his Superintendent’s Report at last Tuesday night’s Board of Trustees meeting.
“Back in 2021, planning began for use of ESSER III grant funds,” he opened. “Originally, the plan included a classroom wing at the Green Top; adding cafeteria space to the south side of the middle school, adding a canopy down the side of the building facing Jones Road and the renovation of former cafeteria space to become a gym exercise room.”
At that time, Dr. Daigneault said total cost estimates for the project totaled $8.215 million.
“Modifications to the plan began as soon as we developed the plan,” he continued. “The initial plans were reviewed very quickly and then we started looking at what can we do better.”
In 2021, due to cost estimates, the plan was modified only to include work at the Green Top including, 14 new classrooms, cafeteria expansions and additional office space.
“What we were charged with is the responsibility to build enough classroom space so that we could accommodate the influx of students that would be coming in with the new plant Milwaukee Tool is just beginning to open up,” Dr. Daigneault said.
With the recently completed Green Top renovations, Dr. Daigneault said the District is “accommodating” the needs of the Elementary School. He added that the next issue to tackle was the District’s “space issues” at Grenada Middle School including 10 new classrooms, a new front entrance facing Jackson Avenue and approximately $100,000 in paving for parking.
“We had one bucket of money and we’re trying to do all of these different projects,” Dr. Daigneault added.
As planning continued and additions to each project were made, cost estimates skyrocketed to nearly $11 million over the initial planning phase. The decision was then made to complete the Green Top project first before addressing the issues at GMS.
The middle school plan, however, was once again revised in 2020-21, to include approximately 28,000 feet of new additions, building 15,000 square feet of renovations, 15,000 square feet of canopies and over 35,000 feet of parking space around the school.
“If you ever go to the Middle School during the day, you’ll understand the parking issues that we all face,” Dr. Daigneault added.
GSD Superintendent Dr. David Daigneault addresses Board of Trustees members, from left, Arlene Conley, Dr. David Braswell and Kevin Carnathan last Tuesday night. | Photo by Adam Prestridge © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Based on the costs to complete the Green Top project, the Middle School project in its entirety was then estimated to come in at approximately $11 million. As a result of the increased cost, the Middle School plan was divided into four phases.
Phase 1 of the project will include, 10 new classrooms and two restrooms facing Jackson Avenue at an estimated cost between $2.3 to $2.4 million.
Phase 2 includes, renovations to the sixth-grade wing at an estimated cost between $1.9 and $2 million. The plan includes adding restrooms for visiting gym opponents, an expanded dining room area to better serve GMS students and a show choir classroom.
Phase 3 includes, new offices, four new classrooms, a new entrance, parking additions, vehicle canopy in the front of the school and a canopy going down the side of the school at an estimated cost between $5.2 and $5.4 million.
Phase 4 includes, a new gymnasium entrance, concessions, public restroom expansion, gymnasium renovations, new bleachers, retractable stage and a new bus canopy at an estimated cost between $2.1 and $2.3 million. A metal building to be placed between classroom areas is also planned for an additional cost between $250,000 to $400,000 of District funds.
During the entire renovation process, drainage issues will be addressed to prevent flooding, which in the past have caused damage at the school including to its gym floor.
At the recommendation of architect Robert Sanders, GSD officials decided to combine Phases 1 and 3 of the GMS project — at a cost of approximately $7.455 million — to “limit disruption of the school day,” according to Dr. Daigneault.
Prior to an 11 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at GMS, the pre-construction meeting was held with project officials and GSD team leaders. The project timeline is 400 days — excluding weather days.
“Now, it’s our hope that we’re going to get it done a little bit quicker with the 400 days, but we feel comfortable in saying that we’ll be ready for 26-27 school year,” Dr. Daigneault said.
Phase 2 is planned to begin eight to nine months after completion of Phases 1 and 3. Phase 4 is planned to begin eight to nine months after completion of Phase 2.
“Will it take eight to nine months between phases?” Dr. Daigneault continued. “I don’t know. I hope that that would be a very reasonable approach.”
Funding for Phases 2 and 4 will be discussed at a later date, according to Dr. Daigneault.
“We’ve got to figure out financing as we get ready to move forward to try to do these additional projects,” he concluded. “Now, as we stand with what we have done on Phase 1 and
Phase 3, we’re in good shape. We got everything taken care of. We have the money set aside from the grant that was in place and we have some money from the $3 mil note that we did.”
