Athens Drive High School moves forward with renovation

Athens Drive High School will soon be getting a new renovation. Many meetings, questions, and suggestions have already occurred, but much more is still needed before work starts. Renovations will start in the summer of 2026. 

“I think it’s gonna be a wonderful refresh that the school can benefit from,” said Michael Clinkscales, Assistant Principal at Athens Drive. 

The school’s renovation will offer many new opportunities and address some concerns or suggestions from students and staff over the years. Many are excited about this renovation, but some are hesitant or anxious. 

“I think it needs an update for sure, but at the same time, I like the uniqueness of Athens, especially with all the trees around it. I like how it feels like a community kind of atmosphere,” said Susan McGraw, senior at Athens Drive. 

There will be many changes, but some major ones include more carpool and bus space, added bathrooms, a new gymnasium, remodeled classrooms, no more trailers, a bigger cafeteria, and a courtyard expansion.

“I think the renovations are going to offer a lot of opportunities for us to address some logistics challenges with the modular,” said Clinkscales. 

People are excited about improvements such as more space, better entrances, air conditioning, cleanliness, better dining, and classroom space.

“In three years, it should look really nice, and I think you guys will like the outcome,” said Clinkscales. 

Although there is much excitement, many are worried about the duration and distraction of the renovation. Parents and students are concerned about safety and things like loud noises or limited space. 

“I know that it’s a long process, so I am kind of glad that my high school career didn’t have that going on with it,” said McGraw. 

Many are also curious about where students will go during this process and how long it will take. The anticipated time is about two to three years of renovation. Fortunately, students will stay at school during renovation but may have limited learning areas. 

Although this is good news to many, there are also concerns about distractions and their impact on learning. 

“I am not looking forward to two to three years of many interruptions, and I don’t like interrupting schooling. But hopefully, the short-term interruptions will be great gains for the future,” said Clinkscales. 

There is still much more to come regarding the renovation, but the school’s approach is good, and hopefully, it will help people have a more positive and ambitious outlook on this big change. 

“I think that, you know, adaptability and resilience will be key. But I’m sure they’ll push through!” said McGraw.