L-EISD celebrates new elementary school
It stood for years as an iconic symbol of growth, change and learning. Lives young and old were changed within the walls made of rock quarried from Hooks, Texas.
Now, those rocks adorn the face an entrance way of Liberty-Eylau’s new elementary school, which will open this fall to give students a 21st Century learning experience.
The original building, known as the “Rock School” was torn down to build the new one, which includes a gym, rooms for music, art and computers, a special education suite and four teachers’ lounges. One of the three long hallways includes a safety shelter, which is now required by the state for all new school construction. The walls along that hallway are filled with additional concrete and other building materials to withstand disasters, including tornadoes. It also includes restrooms, water tanks, independent vent shafts and electrical components to function up to six hours.
Ledwell Office Solutions designed furniture for the school, including modular pieces for flexible classroom learning.
When they purchased the furniture, District Spokesman Matt Fry said they had worked well with the company to create a welcoming and colorful learning environment for all who enter the building.
“At the end of the day, I think we did a good service to our teachers and our kids,” Fry said. “We want the kids to walk in and know immediately that this is a school for them and at the same time we want teachers to feel appreciated when they go into the lounges and they have the furniture in their room.”
The entrance features a tile leopard, the school’s mascot, on the floor and additional rocks from the old building line the inside of the space, as well.
“When our visitors come in and sit in the lobby, we want to give that feeling that if we care that much about these details (for them to know) how much will we care about the education we’re providing for your kids. There are a lot of nonverbal cues that go into what furniture is and we appreciate the work Ledwell did.”
The school is part of a $20.9 million bond voters passed in 2016 for district-improvements, which also included a new Career and Technology Education building at the high school, new turf and track at Harris Field, a roof at the middle school and heating and air systems.
The previous building, which was was demolished last summer, was built in 1938 as a Works Progress administration project.
The district will hold a grand opening for the new school at 5 p.m. today.