DALTON, Ga. — After years of discussions on building a new gymnasium for Westside Middle School, demolition of the existing structure will begin when the current school year ends and construction of a $5.5 million facility will commence.

The new gym, which is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, will be built by Cartersville construction company Womack, Lewis & Smith. The Whitfield County Board of Education approved the contract with the company by a 4-0 vote at Monday night’s meeting at the Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy. Board member Joseph Farmer was not present.

The new gymnasium was one of two construction projects approved by the board members. Roof replacement at Pleasant Grove Elementary is expected to be completed over the summer at a cost of more than $710,000. Both projects will be paid for by funds from an Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST).

“The Westside project was specifically named in the last ESPLOST list, and there has been a lot of discussion on this project for a number of years,” said Assistant Superintendent for Operations Mike Ewton.

Westside, which was originally a high school, was built in the 1950s, Ewton said.

“It is the same general age as Valley Point and North Whitfield (middle schools), and both of those schools are being replaced,” Ewton said. “The facility is outdated.”

Ewton said the back parking lot of the school will be closed during construction, and operations staff are working with the school’s leadership on new bus routes into the school. While the school will be without a gymnasium for the next school year, Ewton said other options will be used for physical education classes and athletic competitions.

“The football stadium and the athletic fields behind the school will still be in use and available for the school and the recreation programs,” Ewton said.

The roof work at Pleasant Grove, which Ewton said is routine maintenance and needed every 15 to 20 years, was awarded to Chattanooga’s JDH Co. Inc.

Board members also voted 4-0 to:

• Approve an increase in the 2019-20 price of most meals served at schools by 10 cents. Breakfast will remain free at all elementary schools. The cost of breakfast at middle and high schools will rise from $1.25 to $1.35, and lunch at elementary schools will go from $2.25 to $2.35. Middle and high school lunches will increase from $2.50 to $2.60.

• Approve a renewal of the school health nurse contract with the Whitfield County Board of Health. The cost of the contract for the 2019-20 school year is $277,517. The renewed contract provides four registered nurses and one registered supervisor with coverage for all of the elementary, middle and high schools. Previously the contract provided four nurses and one registered supervisor with coverage for the elementary and middle schools only.

• Approve a 10-day extension for the completion of the sale of the Eastside Fire Hall at 108 Hill Road to Magana Drywall LLC.