BROOKSVILLE — Plans for a new bus garage/central office for the Bracken County School District are currently underway.
According to Ehmet Hayes, with Robert Ehmet Hayes and Associates, PLLC, the bus garage and central office will be connected, though both will have their own entrances.
“We’ll have board offices, bus drivers and mechanics,” he said. “We wanted to separate all of that. We’ll have some parking in the front for the board office and in that back, we’ll have some bus parking. Everyone will have their own designated parking areas.”
Hayes said the floor plan for the central office includes a vestibule, which will allow buzzing in, a waiting area, main reception counter, work space, offices on one side, superintendent’s office in the corner with a conference room off the superintendent’s office, an administration office and offices on the other side, as well as a work room, kitchen and storage/vault area.
“We’ll also have a board room/training room,” he said. “With this, you’ll be able to come right into the board office and go right into that training room.”
In the bus garage area, there will be two bays, one of which will have a lift, office, mechanic area and parts storage. There will also be a driver’s lounge and rest rooms.
“There will be two drive through bays and an open bay,” he said. “There is a pretty good mechanical area with a washer/dryer and a spot for storage.”
Bracken County Superintendent Jeff Aulick said there are several reasons a new central office and bus garage is needed.
According to Aulick, the central office will be more up to date with better ADA compliance.
“In the current bus garage, we are limited on the repairs that can be made,” he said. “We have a ton of limitations. We can’t do under carriage repairs because of the lift.”
Aulick said the project is expected to cost about $4 million and will be funded through bond sales.
He also said the district is currently reviewing plans and, once finalized, will have to send those plans to the Kentucky Department of Education for approval.
“We hope to have it complete in the next year and a half,” he said.
The current board office is located behind the Bracken County High School and the current bus garage is located next to Taylor Elementary. The new location will be on Kentucky 1159.
