CONWAY, South Carolina (WBTW) — The Hawley County Board of Education approved Monday night a $4.4 million contract with Mount Pleasants-based SMHa Architects to design two elementary schools in Carolina Forest.

The school district has already purchased land for use in schools next to the Carolina Forest Recreation Center and off Highway 31 near Ronald McNair Boulevard.

“This part of the process is $4.4 million. For building services, we are considering sending out an RFQ (Request for Quote) for the general contractor to work with the architect to come up with a plan,” said a district spokesperson. said Lisa Bourcier, “It will take a few months, maybe a year or more to complete. We need to consider whether we can.”

The School Board’s Facilities Committee met before the board meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the situation at the school.

“We do extensive facility evaluations on every school building and every other building,” says Bourcier. “Once that data comes back, he’ll look at a five-year, 10-year-plus plan next time.”

Capital project updates include roof work at Daisy Elementary School, slated for completion in November, and ring road construction at Waterway Elementary School, slated for completion by the end of October.