Students returning to Nell Holcomb Elementary School north of Cape Girardeau in the fall might have trouble recognizing the place.

That's because they'll be greeted by renovated classrooms that are air conditioned and newly lighted.

The $767,000 renovation project is a little more than half complete, said Superintendent David Fuemmeler.

"Most of the work until now involved gutting the classrooms and office area to the bare walls and ceiling and removing the asbestos insulation above the plaster ceiling," said Fuemmeler.

The asbestos removal took five weeks instead of the expected four, but Fuemmeler said the remainder of the work is going smoothly.

When school starts in late August, almost everything north of the gymnasium will be remodeled with only finish work remaining on the walls, floor, roof and the cafeteria.

Part of the school was built in 1959, with a new gym, four basement classrooms and boys and girls locker rooms added in the mid-1970s.

Very little had been done to the building, since it was built, and school officials decided it was time to spend some money on the school.

Fuemmeler said the contractor for the project is confident the work will be completed by Aug. 29.

"If there is any deviation from that, we'll alert the parents," he said. "At this time, no change is anticipated in the opening day of school."

The exterior wall on the west side of the classroom wing has been installed with two energy efficient windows in each classroom. The contractor is installing the exterior wall and new windows on the east side.

The steel frame for the new roof over the classroom, office, and front entrance and lobby area is in place and workers are preparing to install the roof.

In the classrooms and office area, all of the old electrical wiring and conduit was stripped out, along with electrical conduit that was installed on the hallway wall because it could not be run above the asbestos ceiling.

Drop ceilings will be installed in each classroom, allowing the addition of recessed fluorescent lighting. "Until we got rid of the asbestos above the plaster ceiling, there was nothing we could do about the old lighting," said Fuemmeler. "And on a dark, winter day, the lighting in the classrooms was really bad."

The school's antiquated and inefficient hot water boiler system was removed. Each classroom will now have two air conditioning/heater modules mounted in the wall at each end of the classroom.

In the kitchen, cafeteria and adjoining smaller classrooms, a new central heating and air conditioning system, with all-new ductwork, is being installed.

Two restrooms are under construction near the entrance to the gym, and near two special education classrooms beneath the gym. The restrooms, and construction of ramps at entrances to the school building will bring the school district into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fuemmeler said.

The new addition onto the northeast corner of the building will house the school library, freeing up the old library room for additional classroom space.

"After all of the work is done, we should see some significant savings in utility costs each year," Fuemmeler said. "More importantly, we'll have a building that will serve the needs of the district for many more years, and allow for additions as the district grows."

The work is being done without a bond issue or tax increase. Fuemmeler explained the Nell Holcomb school board has been putting aside money each year for the past three from its annual operating budget.

An open house to show off the improvements will be scheduled later this fall, after all of the exterior work is completed, Fuemmeler.