Proposed renovations to the Andalusia High School stadium could be on a faster track than originally planned, after the Andalusia Board of Education authorized its architect to begin detailed drawings of the project Monday.

The board had already entered a contract with Goodwynn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. for architectural work at the AHS auditorium.

In October, the Public Educational Building Authority (PEBA) unveiled proposed renovations to the auditorium and to the stadium. PEBA, the Andalusia City County and the board of education are working together on the project. Initially, officials said the auditorium project would be completed first, because more money had been raised for that project.

However, on Monday, the architect leading the work on the project said the stadium project could be done incrementally, and work could begin right after football season.

The stadium project includes moving the field closer to the home bleachers, building new visitors’ bleachers, erecting a new press box and VIP seating,

A dressing room facility that will facilitate both visiting football teams and AHS softball, and a plaza.

“The minute football was over, you could come in and put a new field down, and move the seating. Then you could start working on the plaza and press tower, next football season,” architect Chuck Jones said. “You could work on opposite sides of the stadium, and never really miss games.”

Superintendent Ted Watson recommended the board authorize the firm to complete the drawings, and authorize the firm to have a professional estimator provide a realistic idea of the costs of both projects.

Detailed plans are already under way for the auditorium project.

“There is a chance to start the stadium project the same time as the auditorium,” Watson said.

Preliminary plans are to demolish the stage portion of the auditorium after graduation and have it rebuilt in time for graduation in May of 2018.

In other business, the board:

• Transferred Griffin Windham from AHS special ed paraprofessional to AES special ed paraprofessional.
• Hired Paula Wilson as an AHS special ed paraprofessional/LPN.
• Hired Amanda Cooper as an AHS cafeteria worker.