Newest socially distanced school opens Monday in Boca Raton

Verde K-8 School, built to relieve crowding in Boca Raton schools, will open on Monday with only 58% of its student body in attendance.

Palm Beach County school officials did not anticipate COVID-19 when they decided to rebuild and expand Verde Elementary, at 6590 Verde Trail, and add a middle school to alleviate crowding at nearby Omni Middle.

But now the school is ready for occupancy, and only 614 students are expected on Monday on a campus that can hold 1,100 kids.

The rest have chosen to learn from home until they feel more secure that the pandemic has eased. All of Palm Beach County’s schools are opening on Monday after six months of closure due to the pandemic.

Here’s a preview of the new, $42 million school, which boasts flat-panel touch screens for teachers, stadium seating in middle school classes and touch-less water fountains, planned before COVID-19, to curb the spread of germs.

Keeping clean: Every classroom has its own sink for hand washing. School officials put these into the budget even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes also have hand-sanitizing stations.

Keeping their distance: In Verde’s cafeteria, markings on the benches signify where students should sit during lunchtime to stay six feet apart. Two students will sit on each bench, with no one sitting across from them.

Off limits: Students won’t be visiting the new center for a while to limit their travels around the campus during the pandemic.

Desks distanced: Desks are spaced six feet apart. Third grade teacher Jennifer Frazier is expecting eight students in class on Monday, while she will teach seven remotely at the same time. Desks may move closer together as a growing number of students are expected to return to school in the coming months and classes start to fill up.

Stadium seating: Desks are at two different heights, which the school calls “stadium seating.” They are designed to make sure all students can see the teacher and the teacher can see them. The school will add a 7th grade next year and 8th grade the following year.

Directional signs: Students will be directed to walk on the right side of the hallway, six feet apart, keep their masks on at all times (except when they’re eating) and refrain from touching each other.

AMY BETH BENNETT/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Lorraine Connover gives an orientation for after school program providers in the cafeteria of the newly rebuilt Verde K-8 School.

AMY BETH BENNETT/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Arrows in the hallways of the newly rebuilt Verde K-8 School in Boca Raton.