Crews working hard to get Bonne Terre Elementary ready

BONNE TERRE — Crews are working long hours and weekends to get the new Bonne Terre Elementary School building ready for the start of school.

North County Superintendent Dr. Terry Gibbons said there is a lot of work to be done, but the school will be ready by the start of classes Aug. 18.

While some school officials have doubts it will be ready in time, Gibbons said there are many people at the school working long hours and overtime to get things ready.

The contractor’s crew and the subcontractor’s crew are working to get the actual building ready at the same time North County maintenance workers and an inmate crew from the prison in Bonne Terre are moving furniture into the new school. On top of that, registration is going on this week at the school.

Last week Gibbons described the untiled gymnasium as the staging area, where furniture was brought in from the dock. Some of the items stayed in the gymnasium while others were moved to rooms that were tiled and all but ready.

Gibbons said everyone is working really hard to get the school ready. He said the prisoners, which are supervised by two prison guards, have really been helping out the past couple weeks.

Gibbons said by the end of this week, they should have phone service and computers running and the furniture should also be in place. The gym floor is also in the process of being tiled.

This weekend, workers will touch up and wax the floors.

Gibbons was a little concerned that the offices weren’t ready last week. He said the big holdup was getting the furniture.

Gibbons said every classroom has Internet capability and the fourth grade classrooms are e-Mints. Kindergarten through second grade classrooms have their own water fountains.

The first official day back for teachers will be Aug. 16. Open houses will also be held that day.

However, the big day for the new school will be Aug. 15.

A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the new school will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 15. Those planning to attend should call 358-2247 prior to Aug. 6.

The school is located on Hillcrest Drive in the Orchard Development between U.S. 67 and Route K. The land for the school was donated by the Orchard, LLC.

Construction of the new school is the result of the passage of Proposition K.I.D.S. (Keep Improving District Schools), a $12.2 million bond issue that passed in 2002. Money generated from the bond issue can only be used for building improvements on the North County campus.