Jackson East Elementary nears completion

The exterior of Jackson's new East Elementary School boasts the district's red and black school colors. But inside, vivid blues, greens, purples and yellows light up the hallways and classrooms.

The new East Elementary School is nearing completion for opening in the fall as seen Tuesday in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

The 105,000-square-foot building, financed with a $16 million bond issue approved by voters in April 2012, is nearing completion and will house its first students this fall.

Twenty-four classrooms will be used by about 400 kindergarten through fifth-grade students. The school has three levels, with two grades per level.

In the early childhood wing, there are 10 classrooms, as well as a separate entrance to the building. Up to 300 students, ages 3 to 5, will participate in the half-day program.

There's also a larger classroom for early childhood students who will spend an entire day at the school.

Wade Bartels, associate superintendent of finance and business operations, said the district has owned the 15-acre site since 2000 with the intention of eventually constructing a new school at 455 N. Lacey St.

This animal portrait identifies the path to the "dog" classroom in the early childhood area of the new East Elementary School as seen Tuesday in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Parents and members of the public will have an opportunity to see the finished product when construction is completed this summer and an open house is scheduled.

As Bartels toured the building Tuesday, he said the main entrance was designed with security in mind.

Two rows of doors make up the entrance area. The first row typically will be unlocked, and the second row will be secured, he said.

A visitor will use a video and audio system to speak with a staff member after entering the first door. Then, after a door to the office is unlocked, the visitor must sign in and fill out a badge before entering the rest of the building.

The entrance at the early childhood wing will follow the same steps.

Throughout the building, the floors, walls and even ceiling tiles are painted bright colors.

"We wanted it to be warm and inviting for the kids, so we tried to incorporate as much color as possible," said Beth Emmendorfer, associate superintendent of student services.

Wade Bartels, associate superintendent of finance and business operations of the Jackson School District, shows the media library in the new East Elementary School on a tour Tuesday in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Bartels said the elementary was "designed with a lot of flexibility, so we could grow into it. And the building won't define our programming. We want our facility to be able to facilitate the programing we want and not vice versa."

Near the main entrance is a commons area, which also serves as a cafeteria. Bartels said a projector and screen will be installed so the space also can be used for assemblies when needed.

At the gymnasium, two long rows of bleachers line a wall and can seat about 150 people. Bartels said the gym can be locked from the rest of the building, allowing community groups access during the weekends for events.

A media library will have rows of bookshelves and computers. Electrical outlets were installed throughout the room to allow for flexibility, Bartels said, as well as to give students a place to charge their own devices.

On each level, two center classrooms can be turned into a larger space by opening a dividing wall. Each floor also has a large group instruction area for group presentations and grade-specific assemblies, a teacher collaboration room and rooms for special services.

Wade Bartels, associate superintendent of finance and business operations, left, and Beth Emmendorfer, associate superintendent of student services, show the colorful tile floor in the art room at the new East Elementary School on Tuesday in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

In the early childhood wing, pictures of animals and colorful tiles help lead students to their classrooms.

The pictures -- of dogs, cats, gorillas, lions and elephants -- will be placed at the corner of each hallway, and different colors on the floor lead to certain classrooms.

If students know their classroom's animal and color, the room is easy to find, Emmendorfer said.

"It's designed to build independence for those 3- to 5-year-olds," she said.

Inside the classrooms, the sinks and whiteboards were installed at a low level to accommodate the young students.

The early childhood wing also has a commons area with soft flooring that's designed to look like a small pond surrounded by green grass.

A motor room, which will be used for occupational and physical therapy activities, also has soft flooring, as well as stairs students will use to practice climbing.

Bartels said classrooms throughout the building are equipped with sound systems.

Teachers can wear microphones around their necks, so they won't have to raise their voices, Bartels said, and the sound will come through speakers in the ceiling.

Students who have hearing impairments also can wear a device to listen to their teacher.

"It benefits all students, but it's designed for students with hearing impairments," Emmendorfer added. "It filters out some of that background noise, so the students are really focused in on the teacher's voice."

Crews are working to install three playgrounds at the campus. On the west side will be a lunch recess area with larger equipment and open space for room to run.

A kindergarten through first-grade playground will be used for morning and afternoon breaks, and smaller equipment will be placed at a third playground for early-childhood students.

East Elementary will be the 10th school in the district and the seventh elementary building. Bartels said the new elementary will free up traffic on the west side of town and solve overcrowding issues in each of the buildings.

"We'll have room for growth in all areas of the district," he said.

Matt Lacy, associate superintendent of personnel and instruction, said Jessica Maxwell was selected as principal, and Shauna Criddle will be assistant principal. Both currently hold those positions at South Elementary School.

Lacy said the district is looking at transfer requests from teachers and analyzing staffing needs for East Elementary.

"We're taking our time working through the process, looking at numbers and making sure we get that right in regards to staffing," he said. "It's a lot of work to get it all off the ground, but in the end, it's going to be a great facility."

Parts of the elementary are starting to shine. The lower level has been waxed and cleaned, but equipment, supplies and furniture still need to be brought into the building. Crews also are completing landscaping work.

Once it's finished, Bartels said, the elementary will "really be something the community and district can be proud of."

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

455 N. Lacey St., Jackson, Mo.