On Tuesday, March 19, an hour prior to the monthly School Board meeting, the members of the School Board toured the new, in-progress elementary school building. The tour was led by the contractor, Jared Lusk, accompanied by his assistants, Malad Elementary School Principal Sarah McIntyre, Malad Elementary School Administrative Assistant Heather Howe, Superintendent Jon Abrams, School Board Clerk Carlean Tubbs, and Maintenance Supervisor Darrell Tripp.

The tour members learned that the brick for the exterior of the building and the paint colors for the interior rooms have been selected. Jared pointed out the locations of the library, the special education room, the computer lab, and the cafeteria. These rooms will all be at the front of the building just behind the front entrance and main offices.

The classrooms for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades will be on the east side of the building. The kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade classrooms will be on the side of the building that faces 400 North. Restrooms will be on both wings of the building.

The gymnasium will be in the middle of the building. A stage will face the gym and will be part of the music room, making it possible for music programs and other assemblies to be held in the gym with plenty of room for chairs for students, parents, and other attendees.

Progress on the interior walls of the new building made it possible for the tour group to envision the finished school better than in the past. Several Board members commented that the rooms now seem larger than they did when only the exterior walls were in place. 

At a special session prior to the Board meeting, the School Board learned that while the elementary building is on budget and on schedule to be completed before Thanksgiving in 2024, the bids for the baseball and softball fields have come in higher than expected. The School Board will meet with Jared Lusk, contractor, in a work session on April 3 to discuss the plans for the ball diamonds.  By then the State Legislature will have concluded its session, and more information will be available about state funding for schools.