By SUE ELLEN ROSS

Staff Reporter

LULING – Furniture for two new schools in construction on Sugarland Parkway is on order, and all will be ready when the buildings welcome students in August 2005.

The R. K. Smith Middle School, estimated to cost $9 million, will house grades 6-8. Twenty-eight classrooms will be located in the building.

The Satellite Center High School, estimated to cost $3 million, will house four instructional areas. One of those areas is a Culinary Arts section that will include a kitchen and dining area.

The first year of operation at the Satellite Center will include only high school students currently in their senior year.

For the 2006-07 school year, those at the junior grade level will join the seniors. The school will continue to instruct only juniors and seniors, according to Larry Sesser, executive director of Physical Plant Services.

The building project, which includes both schools, is due for completion in early- or mid-summer, he added.

“We are pleased with the (construction) time schedule at the Satellite Center,” he said.

“And although some delivery delays at R. K. Smith Middle School slowed things somewhat, we are still on track there also.”