A game changer.
That’s how Foster Elementary principal Jacquelyn Burden described the school’s new gym built through the 2019 Bond program.
Three new gyms – all funded by the 2019 Bond – recently opened at Foster, Miller, and Johns elementary schools.
At Miller, the school celebrated last week during their Open House with a special ribbon cutting.
“The look on our students’ faces as they entered the gym for the first time was priceless,” said Miller principal Angela Robinson. “They have been so excited for this project to be completed, and they are even more excited now that our P.E. classes are taking place in their new gym.”
They are just as excited at Johns, where the principal has big plans for the new space.
“Our new gym is more than just a facility for physical activity,” said Johns principal Grecia Lopez. “It’s a space where our entire school community can come together. We’re excited to give our students a brand-new place to learn, play, and grow, while also creating opportunities to host events that bring families and the community onto our campus.”
The new gyms replaced older, much smaller facilities at each school. Each new gym is more than 5,000 square feet and includes six basketball goals with striping for basketball and volleyball, two restrooms, an office, and storage space.
“The space has been well thought out and will enable our P.E. teachers to offer more games, activities, and sports instruction to our students,” Robinson said.
The gyms were also designed to serve as storm shelters, large enough to accommodate the entire student and staff population.
“The fact that our new gym it is also a tornado shelter gives us peace of mind, knowing that our students and staff will be safe in case of a major storm,” Robinson said.
Meanwhile, the former gyms are being renovated into new classroom space. Miller already has new pre-K classrooms in what used to be their old gym, and Johns’ renovated space will be ready soon. Lopez plans to use the new rooms for pre-K 3, early childhood special education, and music next year.
The new gyms at Johns, Foster, and Miller aren’t the only new elementary gyms built by the 2019 Bond. Crow, Duff, Key, and Pope have also received new gym and storm shelters.
Learn more about the 2019 Bond here.