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    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

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    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

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    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

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    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

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    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

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    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

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    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

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    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

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    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

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    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

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    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

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    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

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    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

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    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

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    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

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    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Henderson joins West Kentucky Film Commission with hopes of luring movie makers here

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    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

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    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

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Home News Schools

East Heights renovation will remove ‘pods’ and replace with a new classroom wing

Vince Tweddell by Vince Tweddell
April 18, 2025
in Schools
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East Heights renovation will remove ‘pods’ and replace with a new classroom wing

East Heights Elementary School students and staff as well as Henderson County Schools board members and Superintendent Dr. Bob Lawson break ground on the school's $25 million renovation. It is expected to be complete in 2-3 years. (Hendersonian Photo/Vince Tweddell)

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Henderson County Schools and other local officials broke ground Thursday morning on an estimated $25 million renovation project at East Heights Elementary School.

The project, occurring in phases, will eventually demolish the classroom “pods” that have been present at the school for decades and replace them with a new classroom wing. It will also update the school’s ADA compliance, including upgraded doors, hardware, drinking fountains, toilets and ramps.

Educators at the school have taught in the pods for decades, said HCS Superintendent Bob Lawson. Though they have done a good job, both Lawson and current East Heights Principal Erika Odom said the added distractions from teaching in the more open spaced setup was and is difficult.

Traditional, closed classrooms are “just easier,” Odom said, because a classroom’s sounds don’t as easily spill into the next.

What may have been a good idea in theory didn’t work as well in practice, Lawson said.

Though the timeline for the project is 2-3 years, Odom said current teachers at the school are excited to get moving.

“It’s progress,” she said.

Fifth grade students present at the groundbreaking echoed what Lawson and Odom said, commenting about future students not hearing other classrooms’ noises coming from over the walls into theirs.

Though they’ll be at North Middle School and eyeing a move up to Henderson County High School by the time of the project’s completion, both Kylen Donald and Lincoln Duff praised the renovation.

“I think it’s going to be great for the generations to come,” Donald said.

“I think it will benefit Henderson greatly,” said Duff.

Perhaps those students are future superintendents because their remarks were similar to those of Lawson, who said that the completed project will be one in which “education and innovation meet” and something the community “can really be proud of.”

The school was first built in 1973 and early on was a nationally recognized school, but over time, it was evident it needed to evolve, said HCS Assistant Superintendent Chad Thompson. He said the last time the school was renovated was 1996.

In addition to the new classroom wing and ADA improvements, the school will also get a new HVAC system, an expanded parking area and front office entry modifications for improved safety and useability.

The project is being designed by RBS Design Group, with Codell Construction serving as the construction manager, Thompson said.

Lawson praised the project as another example of the school system’s pursuit of excellence. He said completing capital projects and improving school facilities has been a major push for him and the school board in recent years.  

Examples of recent capital projects include the new Jefferson Elementary School completed in 2022 and the new Spottsville Elementary School, completed in 2018.

Moving forward, Lawson said the next big capital project will be installing a new HVAC system at South Middle School, which will occur this summer. As the new HVAC system is put in, there will be renovations that go along with it, Lawson said. The price tag for that project is $20-plus million, he said.

Henderson County Schools provided a list of recent improvements, upgrades and capital projects the school system has taken on in recent years.

Projects completed:

  • Replaced carpets in several elementary schools
  • New Spottsville School, 2018
  • New Jefferson School, 2022
  • New roofs at Henderson County High School, North Middle School, East Heights
  • Roof coating at Niagara, A.B. Chandler, Cairo
  • New HVAC at HCHS 
  • New HVAC at South Heights Elementary School
  • New HVAC at Central Academy 
  • New chiller at A.B. Chander Elementary School
  • Secure entrance vestibule at all schools
  • Access controls and security cameras at all schools
  • NMS, South Middle School and Central Academy fire alarm upgrade
  • Softball lighting and Soccer lighting
  • Gym floors at all secondary schools
  • Gym floor refinishing at A.B. Chandler and Bend Gate
  • Pavement work at HCHS and South Heights
  • NMS stadium bleacher replacement
  • Energy savings lighting project
  • Upgrade all intercom systems
  • Solar Project for energy savings for some schools
  • New Soccer locker room at HCHS
  • Softball practice building
  • Turf Football field at HCHS
  • Track resurfacing
  • New playground equipment for all elementary schools
  • NMS gym bleachers 
  • NMS stadium
  • Security Film on doors and windows
  • Tennis Courts refinished at HCHS
  • Baseball infield and soccer fields reworked 

 Projects in Progress:

  • Wastewater Treatment plants at Spottsville, Niagara and Cairo
  • East Heights pod replacement
  • CTE renovation at HCHS
  • New fencing at Softball, Soccer, and Football fields
A rendering of the new classroom wing as its expected to look when it is completed.

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Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell is the founder, publisher and editor of the Hendersonian.

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