By Rupert Howell
If you think a lot of construction is going on around Batesville now, just wait as contractors begin working on two massive school projects that may eventually run up a price of around $8 million.
Fulwood Construction was successful bidder of the Ninth Grade Wing to be added to South Panola High School with a bid of $3,342,830. School board trustees accepted the bid Thursday afternoon upon the recommendation of Architect Gary Bailey.

Earlier in the week trustees approved Bailey’s recommendation to accept Murphy and Sons bid of almost $900,000 for underground work and slab, rough dirt work and draining for Phase I of the Batesville Elementary School’s replacement building following the July 10 fire that destroyed classrooms and the lunchroom of that facility.

That job is being bid in two parts to expedite completion prior to schools’ opening at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.

The ninth grade wing’s completion date is set for July 9, approximately three weeks before the 2016-17 school year.

Other projects ongoing include paving roads leading to Batesville Middle School and the visitor side parking area at Dunlap Stadium. Other work around the stadium including new fencing, removing of an old storage trailer and a new sign on the Highway 51 side of the stadium, and installing a new scoreboard has already been completed.

That work combined with work on the facade of the Downtown area and other touch-up work around the Downtown Square and railroad already gives the community an appearance of extra activity as residents await the coming of The Polar Express in November.