By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Alabaster schools will become a flurry of activity beginning July 1 after the Alabaster Board of Education approved more than $186,000 worth of renovations to several schools.

During its June 27 meeting, the School Board voted unanimously to approve projects ranging from replacing floor tiles in the Thompson High School lobby to landscaping all six school campuses.

“It reaches a lot. It is very much needed,” said Alabaster School Board member Adam Moseley, noting the new flooring in the THS lobby will display the school’s logo, and will prominently feature red and black.

Most of the projects will be at THS and Thompson Intermediate, but all six Alabaster campuses will receive attention before classes begin in August. Major projects include replacing carpet in 17 THS classrooms and the school’s media center, replacing ceiling tiles at TIS and THS and painting portions of several schools.

All school campuses also will receive plumbing maintenance and a “deep-cleaning.” Crews will work to have all projects completed by the first day of classes, Alabaster School Board members said.

During a recent Alabaster School Board work session, new Alabaster BOE Operations Coordinator Jeff Atkins said he would like to see a “swarm of activity” at Alabaster’s schools when the city finalizes its separation from the Shelby County School System on July 1.

In preparation for the separation, the Alabaster BOE has parked several school buses displaying new “Alabaster City Schools” lettering in front of the school buildings.

The Pelham-based Transportation South company has been working this week to re-letter the city’s school bus fleet.

“This is just the first step,” Moseley said after the meeting.