THOMASVILLE- The Thomasville City Schools system is tackling the first phase of its projected 23-month renovation project. Its current focus is centered on building a new fieldhouse for the school’s football team.

When finished, the facility will be located at the end zone next to the old practice field. Demolition work began on the old fieldhouse last week, which will eventually allow work to be done on the new middle school/high school.

Interim superintendent Fred Rayfield said the new fieldhouse should be completed next spring before the following season. It will include various components that will benefit the football program.

“The fieldhouse is going to be a one-story facility that’s going to go pretty deep in terms of the amount of space it has in it,” Rayfield said. “We did come back in and added meeting room space, different things that the coaches and athletes had on their check-off list for us to include. We have locker room space for over 100 players, which does happen here. We have really good turnout for that sport.”

“There will be coaches’ offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms, bathrooms, a training room where the trainers will be set up to do their therapies and things like that. I’m pretty excited about it.”

The fieldhouse will provide an easy transition to the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium, which will look different once the renovation work is completed. A new ticket booth will be set up outside the opposite end zone next to Jackson Street.

Thomasville athletic director Jeremy Rayburn says all of the renovation work will benefit the entire athletic department within Thomasville City Schools.

“It’s an exciting time for Thomasville City Schools, that’s the biggest thing. We’re going to have a new facility for the football team. There’s also going to be a new gym over there with a new weight room for the whole school and the ability to have two volleyball courts. We’re rebuilding a middle school gym for the basketball programs,” Rayburn said. “It’s just exciting all the way around.”

The Thomasville City Schools invites parents, students and community leaders to a special groundbreaking ceremony at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m.