“We actually have room to learn.”
Those were the words of Central Elementary School Principal Terry Morley in describing his joy at the completion of an expansion and renovation project at the school.
On Monday evening, the school held a special open house to let the community see the work that had been completed at the school. As part of the project, six new classrooms were constructed, two bathrooms were renovated, a hallway and was renovated and the school’s cafeteria was expanded.
“We are now in compliance with the Fire Marshal, we’re in compliance with the feds, we’re in compliance with the state, and we’re all under one roof which is a safety thing,” Moreley said.
Prior to the expansion, two classrooms were having to meet in what had been teacher work rooms. Those rooms did not measure up to state or federal standards for classroom space.
The expansion allowed the school to discontinue use of the old modular classroom units, which had been home to the school’s Kindergarten and First Grade classes as well as the Headstart program. One of the new classrooms is now home to a computer lab.
“We sure do appreciate all of the people involved,” Morley said. “Everybody was on board with this project.”
While construction was underway, some of the classes at the school were combined as the modulars were demolished and new classrooms built.
“We had 100 volunteers come and help us move both times,” he added. “We moved out of the modulars into the school and then they came back and helped us move into the new classrooms.”
“We are very blessed and very fortunate to have a lot of good people in Carter County who have supported us and helped us out,” he added.
During the open house, parents, family members and members of the community were invited to tour the new expansion. The school provided refreshments and variety of door prizes, including some custom made birdhouses and wooden signs from Little Milligan Elementary Principal J.R. Campbell.