FRANKLIN RENOVATIONS RECEIVE GOOD GRADES

Renovations made to Franklin Elementary School over the summer are giving the school's patrons something to talk about.

Principal Julie Davenport said just about everyone who enters the school speaks positively about the changes that have been made. The most obvious upgrade has been the conversion of the former gymnasium into a combination art room-cafeteria and an expanded library. Other improvements included enlarging the teacher's workroom and the installation of a computer lab and second-floor faculty restroom.

In addition, the nurse's station formerly located in a corner of the principal's office was moved to a private room that includes a restroom facility.

The project is being completed by Sides Construction at a cost of $633,333.

"We've had so many compliments and good wishes because they really have done a super job," said Davenport. "Our older students wrote letters to the school board thanking them for the renovations. The majority of them seemed especially grateful for the new library and art room."

Work continues on construction of a new gymnasium, which is on schedule for completion before mid-December. Physical education classes will be held outside as long as the weather holds.

Once cooler temperatures prevail, Davenport said the classes will convert to a health curriculum until the gymnasium is built.

Franklin art teacher Donna Richardet said additional space has enabled her to work with students to create larger art projects this year. Additional storage and a sink area that were previously unavailable also have been beneficial, she said.

"I have all my supplies in one place and don't have to travel from room to room," said Richardet. "All the students have been able to have a little more elbow room to work."

Students were most appreciative of the library, which is now open to them every day instead of one day a week. A grant received over the summer was used to purchase 400 new books for students.

"Now the library is better because we have more space, pillows and benches to sit on ... just everything," said Janease Wright, 9.

Cat Goeke, 10, said the cafeteria is smaller than what she'd like, but the fresh paint and new flooring makes it "seem bigger even though it's a little smaller."

Renovations at Franklin are the last to get underway in the first of two phases of building improvements paid for with a $14 million bond issue approved by voters in 1997. New cafeterias and other remodeling efforts were completed at Alma Schrader, Clippard and Jefferson two years ago. Blanchard Elementary School opened last winter to replace the aging Washington and May Greene schools.

Voters approved funding for the final round of improvements in April. The $18 million bond proposal, which did not require a tax increase, will include construction of a new high school and renovations to Central High School.

The new high school is scheduled to open in fall 2002. Grade levels will be reconfigured throughout the district at that time.

The high school would house ninth through 12th grades, and the existing Central High School would become a seventh- and eighth-grade junior high school. Central Junior High would house fifth- and sixth-grade students, which would reduce enrollment at the district's five elementary schools.

Louis J. Schultz School, the district's oldest building, would be closed if the measure passed.

Parent Teacher Association president Tina Wright said Franklin's cafeteria is currently somewhat small for the building's enrollment, but the size will be perfect after the fifth- and sixth-graders are moved to a separate facility.

"It's a little congested right now, but it's going to be just right for the smaller enrollment," she said.