Whitfield County School Board Reviews Facilities Upgrades and 2026 Calendar
During its final regular meeting of the year on December 11, 2023, the Whitfield County Board of Education received a comprehensive update on facilities and maintenance from Eric Patterson, the district’s Director of Facilities. Patterson highlighted the maintenance department’s responsibility for approximately 2.4 million square feet across 24 schools, which include 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, and five high schools, such as Coahulla Creek High and Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy.
Patterson explained that the maintenance operations comprise three departments: mechanical, facilities maintenance, and logistics, employing a total of 24 personnel. The mechanical department, which oversees heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems, includes 14 staff members. This team is responsible for more than 3,000 HVAC units, along with various other maintenance tasks.
The facilities maintenance team, consisting of six employees, handles tasks related to the physical upkeep of buildings, which encompasses roofs, doors, and grounds. The logistics department, with four staff members, manages the transportation and disposal of materials as well as other district needs.
Patterson expressed pride in the maintenance team’s commitment, noting that they manage around 6,500 work orders annually, along with approximately 10 after-hours callouts each month for urgent issues like fire alarms and burst pipes. He also discussed ongoing renovation projects, including substantial upgrades to Valley Point Middle School and HVAC improvements at Dawnville Elementary School.
The combined cost for these projects is estimated at $14,920,958, funded through the district’s Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) VI collections, currently in its third year. Chief Financial Officer Kelly Coon previously indicated that an additional $993,139 from capital outlay funds applied for from the state will contribute to the Dawnville project. Patterson reported that the first phase of Valley Point renovations is nearing completion, with work scheduled to continue through the holiday break, targeting a completion date in fall 2026.
Regarding the Dawnville project, most HVAC units have been installed, with final adjustments pending for the entrance and rooftop unit. The completion is anticipated by spring 2024. In addition, Patterson mentioned that renovations to staff restrooms at Southeast Whitfield High School commenced during the Thanksgiving break and are expected to finish by mid-January.
Superintendent Mike Ewton commended Patterson for his exceptional leadership and the strong culture within the maintenance team, emphasizing their customer-focused approach and ability to maintain high standards with a limited workforce.
In addition to maintenance updates, the board unanimously approved the schedule for upcoming meetings from February 2026 through January 2027. The first meeting of the new calendar year is set for January 5, 2026, at 18:30 at the district office located at 3264 Cleveland Highway. Regular meetings will occur on specified Mondays, including March 2, May 4, and June 1, with sessions held at various schools throughout the year.
Overall, the meeting underscored the board’s commitment to maintaining and upgrading school facilities, ensuring a conducive learning environment for students across the district.
