Students may not appreciate the reminder, but Chilton County public schools reopen Aug. 9. Jemison will see the opening of the new Jemison Intermediate School building, but it will still be known as Jemison Middle School, principal Mark Knight said.

Anticipation is growing for the 2010-11 school year, especially among the faculty members at JMS who are eager to show off their new building.

Knight said several members of the staff, including him, have never worked in a new building during their long careers in education. He said the conditions of the older building meant they were all ready for the change.

The school will house approximately 570 students, Knight said. Currently, the school’s phones and computers have not been transported to the new building, leaving the staff without lines to communicate during the summer. But Knight said any logistical problems should be remedied well before the school year begins.

JMS will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 6 for registration where parents can meet their teachers and parents can fill out any necessary paperwork. They are also invited to tour the new facility.

Students are required to rent lockers this year at a $5 cost. They will not be allowed to carry backpacks during the day.

Sharing Knight’s eagerness to finally exhibit the new JMS is Chilton County superintendent of education Keith Moore.

“We’ve had our final inspection, and the school is beautiful,” Moore said. “We’ve had wonderful comments from people who have seen it. We’re ready to show it off.”

For more information on JMS, call Knight at 280-4841.