School addition opens

PLAINS – A line of people led down the hallway of the Plains school as attendants waited to witness history. A dream that begin in the early 50s finally came to fruition – the grand opening of the new school addition.

An orange and black bow separated those in attendance from the new classrooms that waited down the hallway. Plains Superintendent Thom Chisholm welcomed everyone to a new chapter of the school’s history.

“We began construction here in Plains the middle part of March,” Chisholm explained. “About 110 days later on the other side of this ribbon is a brand new school building.”

Chisholm stated the plan to create one unified campus has been in the works long before any of the key players now were involved and finally that goal was complete.

“I guess what I’m going to say is perseverance pays off,” Chisholm said. “Tonight we get a look at what’s going to become a unified campus.”

Dee Dee Steinebach, the longest serving school board member had the privilege of cutting the ribbon, while Chisholm and school board trustee John Holland watched.

Cheers erupted once the ribbon was cut and with that the school began a new chapter in their history.

The day also doubled up as an open house for K-8 where parents had the opportunity to meet their children’s teachers and tour their classrooms.

The new expansion houses kindergarten through second grade and also features a staff break room, a work room as well as special education classrooms equipped with handicap accessible bathrooms complete with a state of the art handicap shower.

Although all the kinks were not yet worked out, the building for the most part stood ready to take on the kids who would become to know the addition as their new home for the school year.

The walls were plain, something that will change in the weeks to come. Chisholm stated there were black and orange open cubbies that will line the hall. The cubbies will be filled with the student’s belongings.

 The addition was built with future expansions in mind, with the plumbing and electrical systems ready to take on more if the need ever did arise.

The new classrooms also offer an immense cabinet space for storage, something that was lacking in their previous classrooms.

“The space is wonderful and the storage is great,” said kindergarten teacher Marie Errecart. “It’s nice to be able to have room for the kids.”

Not only did the new classrooms get more storage, but the older classrooms did as well. Chisholm ordered oak cabinets from a hardware store to make sure storage was up to par in all the classrooms.

Elementary school principal Jim Holland also received an added bonus, a new office. His office is now located down where the elementary section is so he can be in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. His office looks out over the playground and also has windows into the hallways so he can keep a watchful eye on all of the elementary students.

The day was one that will forever go down in history and will be remembered by many. The expansion will help create an environment conducive to learning and everyone seemed happy.

“New is a nice color,” Chisholm stated. “It looks good on everything.”