Schools

Public Catches Glimpse of New McDonald Elementary

An update on the construction project was given to community members on Tuesday. A full tour of the building is scheduled for Aug. 15.

The beginning of the new school year is less than a month away, and Centennial officials say there's plenty of time to get the new McDonald Elementary ready for the students.

Members of the school community gathered at the new school's library to get an update on the project from administrators Tuesday night. According to the presentation, the main building and parking lot will be completed in September. It will take at least until October for the front of the property to be cleared of the demolition debris from the old school and landscaped.

Officials said there is a strong possibility that fields will be placed on the stretch of land between Street Road and the parking lot and made availability to local sports organizations.

The school library, located a few hundred feet away from the front doors, is as far as the visitors got into the school. An opportunity for a full tour of the school will be available on Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m. Anybody who has walked the halls of the new Davis Elementary should have a general idea of the layout, since both schools used the same construction plan.

"There's plenty of colors and decor that give McDonald its own identity," said McDonald Principal Keely Mahan during the presentation. "Items from Longstreth Elementary have been stored since the school closed and will also become part of the new school."

By using nearly identical designs for Davis and McDonald, the school district managed to curb the contingency costs of change orders for McDonald by learning from any mistakes or flaws in the construction of Davis.

According to numbers supplied by Centennial Business Administrator Chris Berdnik, McDonald needed to use $289,470 for contingency costs, compared to $601,900 for Davis.

"That was explicitly by design," said Centennial Superintendent Dr. Joyce Mundy. "We were able to see what worked and what didn't with Davis."

Orientation sessions will be held for the students on Aug. 29 at the following times:

  • Kindergarten: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
  • First grade: 9:30-10:30 a.m.
  • Second grade: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Third grade: noon-1:00 p.m.
  • Fourth grade: 1-2 p.m.
  • Fifth grade: 2-3 p.m.
If parents cannot get their children to the designated times, arrangements can be made to receive orientation when it is more convenient.


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