By KATIE MCDOWELL/Lifestyles Editor

The Shelby County Board of Education awarded Clements Deacon Building Company, LLC an approximately $6.5 million bid to construct Helena High School’s athletic facilities during its April 25 meeting.

Helena High is expected to open in fall 2014.

Lee Bryant, senior vice president with Lathan Associates Architects, which is overseeing the project, said the athletic facilities will include a football stadium, field house, concession stands and practice fields for baseball, softball and soccer. Groundbreaking for construction is expected to take place in four-six weeks.

Bryant said the city of Helena is funding the construction of the athletic facilities, but the work is being contracted through the board, since it owns the property.

Because of “a misunderstanding” about payment, Bryant said the athletic facilities will be built for a 5A school, instead of 6A. However, Bryant said the city will be able to expand the facilities within a couple of years of its opening.

In other business, the board approved Christopher “Kelly” Smitherman as assistant principal of Thompson High School in Alabaster and Nathan Hayes as Child Nutrition Program supervisor.

Smitherman has taught science and history in the Chilton County School System for the past 14 years, in addition to serving as head middle school football coach, head varsity golf coach and varsity football coordinator. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology and history from Auburn University and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of South Alabama.

Hayes is the child nutrition supervisor for the Jefferson County Board of Education and a food service management adjunct professor at the University of Montevallo. He has a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.