Pike County High School Principal Terry Casey said the 2003-2004 school year will be a good but full year.

PCHS students are one building short this year. The old Brundidge School building was razed earlier this summer to make way for a new building, which isn't scheduled for completion until early next year.

But Casey said he had anticipated the loss of one of his buildings and made plans last year to compensate, leaving the Brundidge School vacant.

"We thought they were going to tear down that building a lot sooner," he said. "I reassigned rooms last year in preparation for this year."

Tom Hicks, director of Finance and Operations for the Pike County School System, said the back to school rush of students wouldn't phase the construction on the PCHS campus.

"Construction will be ongoing at Pike County High School because of that current construction being done to the drive on the front of the campus," he said.

The front drive is being completely reworked to make it more accessible and pleasing to the eye.

In addition, the round building behind the main PCHS building is being refurbished.

"The round building will be completed before school," Hicks said. "It will eventually be used for art and other things of that nature."

For now, though, Casey needs all the room he can get and will use the round building for classroom space another year.

Renovations at Pike County Elementary should be complete before the school year despite some delays.

"The refurbishment at Pike County Elementary is not progressing as rapidly as we had hoped," said Hicks.

Hicks and Superintendent Mark Bazzell met in Montgomery with PH&J Architects and the Russell construction company to discuss the reasons for the delay and possible solutions. Hicks hopes to have a report in time for the school board meeting on Monday.

"Our goal and hope is to have everything back there and in full swing once school starts," he said.

Classroom furniture was removed to make way for new walls, paint and window treatments and Hicks said everything should be in place by July 26.

In Goshen, this fall will be no different from last fall. But after Christmas, students will see changes.

Construction on the new sixth grade building at Goshen Elementary School is moving right along. Hicks said the plywood and shingles for the roof should be going up any day.

When the building is complete, the sixth graders will move from Goshen High School back to the elementary school. The new building will also house additional computers.

"Everything is progressing very well," Hicks said.