Lloyd Smee, Jackson EMC Distribution Design Specialist Tommy Evans and David Lee review construction plans for Hall County schools.

Hall County schools have been adding approximately 1,000 students each year and have three new facilities under construction to meet that growth. When it came time to select an energy provider for the new schools, the school system chose Jackson EMC. Spout Springs Elementary and the Language Academy will open this fall and the Middle/High School Complex is scheduled to open in 2009.

Lloyd Smee, maintenance director for Hall County Schools, says the system always keeps economics in mind when deciding when and where to build, and economics was one reason Jackson EMC was chosen.

"It's been our experience that Jackson EMC has been the most cost-effective energy provider. We get help from the engineers, and it's good to have those kinds of folks to talk to. I always feel as though I can call on Jackson EMC when I need them. David Lee and Benny Bagwell are on speed dial," says Smee. Bagwell is Jackson EMC's district coordinator in the Engineering division, and often works with Smee on construction projects. David Lee is Jackson EMC's Commercial/Industrial Marketing representative assigned to the school system's account.

One issue Hall County faces is making sure the transformer and switch equipment at Chestnut Mountain Elementary is large enough to handle new technology. Alan Shedd, Jackson EMC's Commercial/Industrial engineer, is working with Smee to support Chestnut Mountain's new state-of-the-art Language Academy.

"Our Language Academy will house K-5 students where first-graders will be in the Language Immersion Program. Math and English will be taught in English and Spanish a certain percentage of the day. The academy will also offer Mandarin Chinese. The hope is that these students will be fluent in both English and Spanish," Smee says. Second through fifth graders will be enrolled in the Language Academy program, and taught Spanish as a second language. Drawing students from Chicopee, Jones, Martin, Spout Springs and Chestnut Mountain schools, the Academy will serve 400 students.

Lee helped secure the power contracts to serve Hall County's new schools. "We have a long history with the Hall County School system, and each time they choose us as their power provider, we're reminded of the customer service levels customers expect. Our engineers and staking technicians have a reputation that precedes them. The team effort makes a difference for us and also serves our customers well. When Hall County needs us, we've got a team of people at their service," said Lee.