The new construction at Greene County Elementary is finally complete and students and visitors can once again use the main entrance.
The addition is now home to four 800 square-foot prekindergarten classrooms. Each class has between 16 and 20 students, principal Scott Johnson said. Classrooms in the rest of the building are about 900 square-feet.
The most noticeable feature of the addition is enhanced security. The first set of exterior doors is unlocked during the school day, but visitors must pass through the school office for admittance to the rest of the building. Office staff has a view of the vestibule and the principal’s office has a view of the main entrance as well.
The elementary school is the only building in the district with a secure entrance.
The new classrooms were needed because of adding fourth grade to the building with the closure of the Grand Junction building at the end of the last school year.
The addition was scheduled to be completed before the August school start. A slow start due to a wet spring and delays by Badding Construction made it necessary for the district to rent space at the St Joseph Parish Center to house prekindergarten classes until late October.
Concrete work and the main office and security system were not completed until late in November.
Total cost of the project was $1.7 million, with payment coming from the district’s 1-cent sales tax and the physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL). The property tax levy was not increased.
The aerial photos show the two additions to the 20-year-old building. The space with the lighter roof on the right was added when the Scranton building was closed.
