Posted 4:15 pm Saturday, March 21, 2009
Ground Broken On New Clarkston Elementary Campus
By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer
Clarkston Elementary School celebrated the start of construction for its new school Friday morning, but the principal says the school doesn't plan to stop the celebration any time soon.
"We're going to celebrate every load of dirt, every piece of equipment that rumbles by, every steel beam that goes in place," Clarkston Principal Kathryn Letsinger said. "We're going to celebrate until we go through the doors of this new school."
Tyler ISD officials participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday to mark the occasion.
"Who's ready for a new school?" TISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid asked the crowd. Students quickly exclaimed, "Me!"
Board President Ron Vickery said the school has been there for 50 years, adding, "It's far past time you get a new one."
Vickery thanked the community for their overwhelming support of the TISD bond issue that is funding the building.
Ms. Letsinger thanked the Tyler ISD leadership for their "commitment and their vision to build new schools for our children."
"From our heart, thank you," she said. "There is no greater investment that a nation or a community can make than investing in our most precious resource, our children," she said.
Clarkston is one of five schools TISD is building as part of the $124.9 million bond program that voters approved in November.
The bond program replaces Clarkston, Griffin, Jones, Orr and Woods elementary schools, as well as the St. Louis School-Wayne D. Boshears Center for Exceptional Programs. Jones and the Boshears school, a school for special needs students, will be constructed as one facility. The district hopes to open all of the schools in August 2010.
At a school board meeting in February, trustees approved a guaranteed maximum price from RPR Construction Company of $14,088,879 for the construction of Clarkston.
Clarkston is one of two schools in this bond program that will have a different design than the Jack Elementary School model from the prior bond election in 2004.
Clarkston will be constructed as a 600-student campus.
"We jumped for joy when that bond passed," Ms. Letsinger said after the ceremony. "And when they gathered us together to get a glimpse of the new plans, we all had goose bumps, but you have never seen such excitement on this campus when all this equipment started rolling in. It is now a reality."
Ms. Letsinger said it will be wonderful to have interior hallways and climate control.
She also said the new building will "motivate our children even more to learn and explore their world."
"We're excited this day is finally here for Clarkston," she said.
Clarkston third-graders Priya Whitley and Zachary Boynton say they are excited about getting a new school. They'll be fifth-graders when the new school is expected to open.
"I'm glad. We won't have to walk outside anymore. So if it's cold outside ΓΆΒ?Β» we won't have to be cold when walking outside all the time," Zachary said.
Priya said getting a brand new school will be, "awesome!"
"We're going to get the most unique school in Tyler!" she said.
Community members were also excited about the start of construction for a new school.
Betty Plyler taught first grade at Clarkston for 10 years starting in 1959 and said she "loved every minute of it."
Mrs. Plyler and her husband, Jim Plyler, a former TISD superintendent, attended Friday's groundbreaking event.
"We're delighted," she said about Clarkston getting a new school.
Jim Plyler added, "The administration and the board are doing a tremendous job getting all this done."
Carolyn Andrews was also among those who came out to see the groundbreaking.
Ms. Andrews' sister, Shirley Dodd, taught at Clarkston for more than 40 years but has since passed away.
"It's been so special to be able to be here," Ms. Andrews said through tears. "I think it's wonderful."
Ms. Andrews said her sister would have been thrilled too with Clarkston getting a new school.
"This was like her second home," she said. "I just had to be here to see it."
Staff Writer
Clarkston Elementary School celebrated the start of construction for its new school Friday morning, but the principal says the school doesn't plan to stop the celebration any time soon.
"We're going to celebrate every load of dirt, every piece of equipment that rumbles by, every steel beam that goes in place," Clarkston Principal Kathryn Letsinger said. "We're going to celebrate until we go through the doors of this new school."
Tyler ISD officials participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday to mark the occasion.
"Who's ready for a new school?" TISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid asked the crowd. Students quickly exclaimed, "Me!"
Board President Ron Vickery said the school has been there for 50 years, adding, "It's far past time you get a new one."
Vickery thanked the community for their overwhelming support of the TISD bond issue that is funding the building.
Ms. Letsinger thanked the Tyler ISD leadership for their "commitment and their vision to build new schools for our children."
"From our heart, thank you," she said. "There is no greater investment that a nation or a community can make than investing in our most precious resource, our children," she said.
Clarkston is one of five schools TISD is building as part of the $124.9 million bond program that voters approved in November.
The bond program replaces Clarkston, Griffin, Jones, Orr and Woods elementary schools, as well as the St. Louis School-Wayne D. Boshears Center for Exceptional Programs. Jones and the Boshears school, a school for special needs students, will be constructed as one facility. The district hopes to open all of the schools in August 2010.
At a school board meeting in February, trustees approved a guaranteed maximum price from RPR Construction Company of $14,088,879 for the construction of Clarkston.
Clarkston is one of two schools in this bond program that will have a different design than the Jack Elementary School model from the prior bond election in 2004.
Clarkston will be constructed as a 600-student campus.
"We jumped for joy when that bond passed," Ms. Letsinger said after the ceremony. "And when they gathered us together to get a glimpse of the new plans, we all had goose bumps, but you have never seen such excitement on this campus when all this equipment started rolling in. It is now a reality."
Ms. Letsinger said it will be wonderful to have interior hallways and climate control.
She also said the new building will "motivate our children even more to learn and explore their world."
"We're excited this day is finally here for Clarkston," she said.
Clarkston third-graders Priya Whitley and Zachary Boynton say they are excited about getting a new school. They'll be fifth-graders when the new school is expected to open.
"I'm glad. We won't have to walk outside anymore. So if it's cold outside ΓΆΒ?Β» we won't have to be cold when walking outside all the time," Zachary said.
Priya said getting a brand new school will be, "awesome!"
"We're going to get the most unique school in Tyler!" she said.
Community members were also excited about the start of construction for a new school.
Betty Plyler taught first grade at Clarkston for 10 years starting in 1959 and said she "loved every minute of it."
Mrs. Plyler and her husband, Jim Plyler, a former TISD superintendent, attended Friday's groundbreaking event.
"We're delighted," she said about Clarkston getting a new school.
Jim Plyler added, "The administration and the board are doing a tremendous job getting all this done."
Carolyn Andrews was also among those who came out to see the groundbreaking.
Ms. Andrews' sister, Shirley Dodd, taught at Clarkston for more than 40 years but has since passed away.
"It's been so special to be able to be here," Ms. Andrews said through tears. "I think it's wonderful."
Ms. Andrews said her sister would have been thrilled too with Clarkston getting a new school.
"This was like her second home," she said. "I just had to be here to see it."
