THOMASVILLE — The new Bishop Hall Charter School (BHCS), 220 N. Pine Tree Blvd., recently observed a dedication ceremony. Bishop Hall Charter School is part of the Thomas County School System. From August 1999, until December of 2014, Bishop Hall was at 1819 E. Clay St.
The school is in its 16th year of providing a non-traditional educational environment for Thomas County School students.
Said Chris Huckans, BHCS principal, “I am proud to be the principal here. Our school has always strived to create a learning environment that embraces the entire student and not just the academics. It was awesome to have so many people here today who have given so much to establish and maintain BHCS.”
The new 22,300-square-foot building includes:
- Several school offices
- Large commons area
- State-of-the-art science lab
- Electronic library
- Nurses station
- 28-station computer lab
- Cafeteria with an outside dining area
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Seven spacious classrooms
The new building is adjacent to the old Central High School gymnasium, which has just been fully renovated and serves as the physical education facility for Bishop Hall.
Each classroom is equipped with an interactive SmartBoard and Wi-Fi Internet access. A nearly $1 million grant provided by the state made it possible for Bishop Hall to be a smart building. It is equipped with the latest technology.
Each BHCS student has his or her own netbook, which grants students access to their own electronic textbooks, BHCS’s new electronic library and dozens of on-line courses supported by fully certified teachers.
Bishop Hall has an enrollment of 175 eighth through 12th grade students, with an anticipated maximum enrollment of 200 students.
Dr. George “Dusty” Kornegay, superintendent of the Thomas County School System, said, “As Bishop Hall enters its 16th year, it has a new building and new technology designed to meet the needs of students with small classes, a supportive learning environment and specialized student services. I am very proud to be associated with those early leaders who had a vision to build a school for students who needed a smaller, supportive learning environment.”
Kornegay expressed gratitude to the Thomas County Board of Education for support of the Bishop Hall endeavor by agreeing to include funds for the new facility in the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
Lisa Williams, school system assistant superintendent, said, “I would like to thank all of the stakeholders involved for allowing this vision to become a reality. This new high-tech facility will help provide the students at Bishop Hall with endless opportunities.”
Said Rich Johnson, former Bishop Hall Charter School headmaster, “ ‘No matter where you go, there you are.’ That saying comes from the 1984 movie ‘The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai,’ and it’s a very true statement. Bishop Hall has physically moved from one place to another place, but the spirit within BHCS remains the same. I want people to know that we have some incredible kids here, and this cutting-edge facility is better equipped to give them the tools they need to succeed.”
Johnson served as headmaster from 1999 until his retirement in 2014.
Jeremy G. Rich, chairman of Bishop Hall’s social studies department, said, “We are blessed to have this wonderful new facility for the continued educational advancement of the students entrusted to our care. Of course, this would not have been possible without the vision and leadership of (Dr.) Kornegay and the county’s school board, as well as the participation of the students, parents, administration, faculty and staff of Thomas County Schools.
Said Dr. Verna Wiggins, BHCS graduation coach, “The upcoming Bishop Hall is truly an amazing institution of learning. It’s opening many doors of opportunity for our students in the present, with an eye towards their future. Simply put, we have a state-of-the-art building here. The old Bishop Hall on the Vashti campus was the beginning, and this is our new beginning.”
Dr. Cynthia Drayton, a member of Bishop Hall’s executive board, said, “Whenever bold leadership, great vision and empowered people are aligned, wonderful possibilities can be realized. Bishop Hall is a product of all of those ingredients. There’s no question that BHCS is a crown jewel of education locally.”
Kayla Cochran, a 10th-grader at Bishop Hall, said attending Bishop Hall Charter School is the best decision she ever made. Being at the school has encouraged her to want to graduate and make something of herself.
For more information about Bishop Hall’s new facility, call (229) 227-1397 to arrange a tour. The school’s website remains http://www.thomas.k12.ga.us/school_home.aspx?schoolID=3.