As Warren Central High School students enjoy the upcoming holiday break, a major renovation project will be underway at their school.

That’s because Warren County Public Schools’ board of education awarded a $320,500 bid on Tuesday to demolish the school’s cafeteria and kitchen.

In a special meeting, the board awarded the bid to Scott & Ritter for work that will begin Dec. 17 and take about two months to complete, weather permitting. While the work is underway, students will eat lunch in the school’s gym, with food provided by neighboring schools.

“We’ve got in place for Warren Elementary, Jennings Creek (Elementary) and Moss Middle School to provide food to Warren Central during this time,” said Chris McIntyre, the district’s chief financial officer.

“We’ve got a floor covering to go over the basketball court” to avoid damaging the gym, McIntyre said.

Demolishing the school’s cafeteria and kitchen is the first major step in a broader $14 million facilities upgrade at Warren County Public Schools’ oldest high school. The entire project includes renovating the school’s cafeteria, band and vocal rooms and some attached classrooms.

The demolition bid awarded Tuesday also includes some additional work, such as installing a gas line for a mobile kitchen that will be in use later.

It’s all an effort to make way for a new cafeteria that can double as a gym. The district hopes to break ground on that project in early March and begin advertising for bids later this month.

In related business, the board authorized bids to be advertised for a switchboard for the school, which controls electricity flowing to the school. Because the work requires the entire school to power down, work on that project will likely happen next summer.