Progress of Stewart’s Creek High School, which is expected to open its doors for school year 2013 was at the top of the agenda. Construction of the school is almost underway with the land preparation in full swing, Director of Schools Harry Gill Jr. explained to the committee.

“It’s exciting to drive by there and see they’ve done excavating, a lot of dynamiting, and they’re running lines to the detention pond,” Gill said.

Eagleville School was also on the agenda at Tuesday’s meeting. The school board requested funding be directed toward building classrooms at the school, which currently has 14 portable classrooms to accommodate students.

“I think everyone recognizes the need for classrooms at Eagleville with 14 portables,” Gill told the committee.

Eagleville School is in desperate need of much more than just classrooms, however the projects for the school had to be divided into separate phases in order to create a plan that the county budget could sustain, County Commissioner Will Jordan explained.

“I think everybody agrees we need both phases. The revenue is just not there to do both phases at the same time,” Jordan said.

The school board pushed for the second phase of the Eagleville project, which would add nine classrooms, a science classroom, lockers, bathrooms and a teacher workroom.

“It doesn’t get us completely out of the portable business, but it’s a good start,” Gill said.

The second phase of building would cost more than $3.5 million, but would largely be paid for with remaining funds in the Stewart’s Creek High School budget.

The first phase would add more classrooms, rehearsal rooms, expand the cafeteria and auditorium space. Phase one is expected to cost more than $4 million.

“We aren’t asking for Phase one today, but I hope sooner rather than later Eagleville can get that first phase completed,” Gill told the committee.

The Health and Education Committee approved the school board’s request to fund the second phase of expansion at Eagleville School and forwarded the request to the Budget and Finance Committee for review.