The Charlotte County Public School District is poised to begin the first phase of rebuilding Charlotte High School as early as the end of the month.

Demolition plans for the Hurricane Charley-damaged buildings are under way. The monster storm struck the area on Aug. 13, 2004. The demolition is expected to happen in late January or early February about 18 months after the storm.

It will cost more than $1 million and take six weeks to raze the damaged buildings, said Roseann Samson, the assistant superintendent of facilities.

All but five buildings, including the three-story main building, the gym, Champ's Cafe, and the Charlotte Performing Arts Center will be destroyed.

A planning committee created to help design the estimated 250,000 square foot new high school will be announced on Jan. 16. It will be made of community members, parents, school officials and CHS staff. In addition to CHS, the rest of the six-school rebuilding effort is going smoothly, according to Samson.

It will cost the district between $175 million dollars and $200 million dollars to rebuild the schools. However, some rebuilding costs might increase because of a shortage of building materials created after the past year's slew of hurricanes in Florida and the Gulf.