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Building a better Kelly
Kelly school year opens on Thursday with newly completed construction
BENTON -- Every student in the Scott County R-4 "Kelly" School District was impacted by the recently completed construction on their campus as the new school year got underway Thursday.
In April 2013, voters in the Kelly School District approved a $3-million, no-tax increase bond issue to add 10 new classrooms for the elementary and a cafeteria/kitchen addition to the multipurpose facility for the middle school and high school.
Construction began in June 2014 after school let out for the summer, and work continued during the 2014-2015 school year. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 20, but it was Thursday before all the students were able to see the newly completed construction at the same time.
"It's awesome," smiled fifth grader Katelyn Evans.
Her eyes lit up when asked about the new addition.
"I'd compare it to the golden room classroom," Katelyn said.
Fifth grader Leah Lambert was equally excited about coming to school Thursday.
"It's easier to reach the top locker," Leah said about the new lockers for fourth and fifth graders. "The classrooms are bigger, and you have more room to move around the class."
This helps especially when additional space is needed for class activities, she said.
Katelyn agreed.
"And I love the bathrooms," Katelynn added, referring to the new, spacious bathrooms for fourth and fifth graders.
The new 14,000 square-foot addition to the elementary houses 10 new the fourth and fifth grade classes, as well as special education and Title I classrooms.
Superintendent Fara Jones said the classrooms are equipped to handle the latest technological advancements, including a new lighting system and HVAC system. Also, the addition allows for potential to add on more classrooms should enrollment increase in the future.
The addition features cherry mahogany wood for cabinets combined with black and gray tones for other elements such as bulletin boards, base boards, flooring and tile. The maroon and gray represent the school colors.
An existing classroom which was freed up from the addition of the 10 new classrooms is being utilized as another teacher workroom as well as an exercise room for faculty members.
The bonds were also used to construct the 3,015-square-foot kitchen facility for the middle and high school. Prior to Thursday's first day of school, the cooks had to transport the food for high school and middle school students via school hallways from the district's only kitchen located in the elementary building all the way to the high school's multipurpose area, which serves as the lunchroom for the middle school and high school students.
The kitchen facility was attached to the the corner of the multipurpose gym and features a full-service kitchen with offices. It also features the maroon, black and gray color scheme.
Parents and students had the opportunity to see the new construction during the district's open house on Tuesday night, and the feedback has been positive, Jones said.
"The parents and patrons of Kelly hold a strong desire to provide every student with the very best to prepare them for a strong future," Jones said. "This requires the district to be planning for constant change. Changes in curriculum, changes in technology and changes in student needs has kept the district moving forward at a very fast pace. The additions to buildings, classrooms and programs at Kelly are proof of the desire to provide the very best to help every student succeed."
At the close of the 2014-2015 school year, the district had an enrollment of 1,012 students, a staff of four administrators, 74 teachers, 11 paraprofessionals and 20 custodians and support staff.
Jones and staff were still compiling first-day enrollment figures as of Thursday morning.
The motto of Thomas W. Kelly Schools is "Helping Students To Succeed," Jones noted.
She said: "The growth of the school, athletic programs and academic programs continue to provide the student's at Kelly with opportunities for success."