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System leaders tour new high school

Photo by James Nix

Cox Mill High School principal Todd Smith gives the Cabarrus County Board of Education a tour of the new high school Monday afternoon.

By Jessica Groover | Independent Tribune

Published: August 19, 2009

CONCORD — Beautiful, interesting and utilitarian were words members of the Cabarrus County Board of Education used to describe the new Cox Mill High School. Several school system staff members toured Cox Mill for the first time on Monday.

"I was on the high school committee," board member Cindy Fertenbaugh said. "In January 2007, we had a vision of what we wanted it to look like. To see it now, it is that vision. They pulled it off."

The new high school is a two-story, 232,500 square foot building and cost $33 million, according to Morris-Berg Architects.

On the outside, there is red brick that is meant to resemble a collegiate campus building, a characteristic Fertenbaugh said the high school committee wanted.

Upon entering the building, there is a large lobby and commons area that was a favorite among board members.

"It's such a nice big space with the built-in benches," Fertenbaugh said. "It's colorful and comfortable."

The lobby area has daylighting, one of the environmentally friendly features of the building. The school also will use rainwater harvesting, energy efficient roofing and various recycled materials, according to Morris-Berg.

Another favorite feature of the school among board members was that it included two biotechnology laboratories.

"I really liked the biotechnology classrooms, the greenhouses and the water recycling," said board vice chair Wayne Williams. "I think that's a great idea. I am looking forward to going out there and seeing how they function."

The tour also included viewing the media center, which like the rest of the school had the purple and teal school colors represented in the furniture and on the floor. The media center was a favorite of Superintendent Barry Shepherd's.

"It was pleasing to see the media center stocked with books ready for the students," Shepherd said.

The school board also visited the weight room, the 1,600-seat gymnasium and the 600-seat auditorium, all of which Fertenbaugh said were carefully planned.

"We were involved even down to having the rooms rearranged," Fertenbaugh said. "In some schools, it's awkward to go to one space to another. Here, the drama room is behind the stage, and the chorus room is behind the stage."

Principal Todd Smith led the tour and said he was proud to show off the school to the board members and Shepherd, especially since they and many other people helped the school get to where it is.

Now that the tour is over, he said he is ready for the first day of school.

"I'm ready for the faculty to meet the students and get down to the business of teaching," Smith said. "You only have one first day, so it's going to be an exciting day."