THROOP - It was worth the wait.
That was the consensus among several teachers decorating bulletin boards and arranging desks at the renovated Mid Valley Elementary School and newly constructed addition Tuesday.
"I had to pick my jaw up off the ground," fourth-grade life skills teacher Bernadette Schumacher said. "It went through a lot to finish it, but it was so worth the wait."
Classrooms are beginning to take shape, and Superintendent Randy Parry said the building will be ready for school on Monday.
The elementary building and addition have been the center of controversy after construction delays pushed back the start date twice. Concerns over losing holiday vacation days, less time to prepare for state tests and a pushed-back end date were discussed at meetings held nearly every week in August.
Teachers began working on classrooms over the weekend, even though the building didn't formally pass inspection until Monday.
Lockers lined the new fourth-grade wing, where Ms. Schumacher and Shelley Rhodes discussed how they believed students would react to the upgrades and added space.
"Their eyes are going to be like saucers," Ms. Rhodes said, explaining the space will allow teachers to add independent work stations for student groups. "All good things are worth waiting for."
The library doubled in size, allowing for two classes to use educational space and materials to increase, Mr. Parry said. The cafeteria also expanded to add seating and a cook-in kitchen. Previously, the elementary school's food was prepared at the high school. New security cameras will ensure that students are safe, he added.
The full-day kindergarten program will begin this year, and additional classrooms were built for a pre-kindergarten program in the future. In total, five extra classrooms were constructed.
"We didn't underbuild so in five years we have to build again," Mr. Parry said. "I think we're good for the rest of our careers here."
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