New Elementary School Plans Unveiled

Plans for a new Jennie Moore Elementary School are taking shape, and county planners have packed the $34-million facility with the latest in building technology.

Last week, Mount Pleasant Town Council approved plans for the school, one of the key hurdles as Charleston County Schools moves toward construction.

Despite the green lights, construction won’t start for nearly two years, and students won’t attend classes in the school until August 2015.

County leaders plan to replace the current Jennie Moore Elementary School and then also build the new Laing Middle School on 26 acres of land located behind the current elementary school, according to school system documents.

The elementary school will accommodate between 900 and 1,200 students in 125,000 square feet of space.

The school will be designed to meet LEED standards, and therefore will be a “green” building, using natural light and open spaces. The building will also feature community gathering spaces for after-hour events.

The school system plans to solicit bids for contractors in April 2013.

BY THE NUMBERS

900 students, minimum
125,000 square feet
52 classrooms
3 computer labs
2 science labs
2 art rooms
2 music rooms
1 drama room