The countdown is on to back to school, and local school maintenance are busy making sure that everything is spic and span and that upgrades are completed.

Andalusia City Schools Superintendent Ted Watson said school personnel are readying the buildings for kids to return on Aug. 7.

“There was a lot of maintenance that had to be done,” he said. “The new gym at the high school had to have some repairs where a leak had taken place.”

Watson said some new shelves were built and installed for the library as well as new lockers.

They are working on a roof repair at Andalusia Elementary School and anticipate getting a new roof for the school.

Watson said new windows will be installed in Old Main at Andalusia High School, and that new bleachers will go up at the softball field.

Demolition is in the works to begin the renovations at the auditorium and stadium.

Opp City Schools Superintendent Michael Smithart said they are in the process of upgrading their network.

“This is an almost $500,000 project,” he said. “Contractors are currently replacing all internal connections and wiring. This will allow us to push more bandwidth to the classrooms and increase speed and reliability.”

Smithart said on top of that the system employees are working to complete routine maintenance projects, including painting at OES and floor covering at OHS.

School starts Aug. 7.

“We have installed promethean smart boards in all classrooms at OES. We have built a new middle school football practice field and will soon replace all the sod at Merchants Field.”

Covington County Schools Superintendent Shannon Driver said they have been working on general maintenance at the county’s schools this summer.

“We’ve had some paint projects,” he said. “We don’t have any major maintenance projects. We’ve done some air conditioning repairs and floor waxing.”

County Schools students return to school on Aug. 14.