The improvements included a 23,462-square-foot addition and renovations to 9,310 square feet of the existing building. A large portion of the building remained unchanged, and now the facility is 76,394 square feet.

Mayflower Superintendent John Gray said the addition includes a 4,500 square-foot cafeteria and 10 classrooms, as well as administrative areas.

“The addition was necessary because of our increased studentgrowth, our projected growth and we wanted to improve the quality of our facilities and amenities,” Gray said.

He said last year 379 preschool through fourth-grade students were enrolled at Mayflower Elementary. When school starts Monday, Aug. 18, Gray said enrollment is projected to be about 407.

“We’ve added at least one kindergarten classroom, maybe two if enrollment warrants it,” Gray said.

Parents can tour the addition at 7 p.m. Thursday during a special teacher and parent conference.

As part of the renovationsthe old cafeteria was turned into classrooms. The new cafeteria is roomier and includes a stage where the school can have assemblies, plays and presentations. Besides the additional classrooms, there will be an art room, a science room and a computer lab with 25-30 computers.

“I think the most special part of the addition is we’re updating our facilities up to the standards set by the state,” Gray said.

According to records with the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation, the Mayflower Elementary building was constructed in 1948.

Students shouldn’t have toomuch trouble traveling in the new addition, because it was started while school was in session last year.

“I think the students who were here last year will be pleased the construction is done,” Gray said.

As workers put the finishing touches on the building, environmental services employees were waxing and buffing floors, so desks and other classroom furniture are stacked in the hallways. Once the classrooms are ready, everything will be moved back in and the hallways will be prepared. Gray said teachers will be moving into their classrooms during the first week in August.

This article was published Sunday, August 10, 2008.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 141 on 08/10/2008

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