The Free Press, Mankato, MN

News Ticker

Local News

Related Photos

  • Pat Christman

    LCWM

November 19, 2009

Move-in day at LCWM Elementary

By Tanner Kent

LAKE CRYSTAL — Arriving to well-lit and spacious new rooms, it was the first day of school all over again this week for Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Elementary students.

A year after the School Board approved the funding, students and staff enjoyed their first full day in the school’s $1.75 million addition.

That addition includes four new kindergarten rooms that were greeted eagerly by those who have been waiting weeks for the big day.

“I can’t wait to watch the kids when they come in,” said Brenda Reid, about 120 seconds before school started on Wednesday. “They have watched the progress and have heard all the drilling. They are very excited.”

And when those kindergartners arrived, they had a lot to explore.

The new rooms are 1,200 square feet — one-third bigger than their previous classrooms — and feature large windows and open floor space. Each classroom has its own bathroom and drinking fountain as well as extra spaces for coats, tables and group activities.

“Our new rooms are big, bright and beautiful,” said Karen Birkemeyer. “It is a wonderful place for our kindergarten children to learn.”

The impetus for the addition, said LWCM Supt. Les Norman, was the district’s burgeoning preschool population. This year, the district has three sections of kindergarten, all with more than 20 students. And in the next few years, he said, the district is forecasting kindergarten classes that number in the 80s.

That kind of growth, Norman said, represents a turnaround from the beginning of this decade when the district’s enrollment was declining and it was forced to close two schools to get out of statutory operating debt.

“We’re experiencing growth at kindergarten, and that will continue,” said Norman, adding later: “We’re in a real good position right now for educating the students who will be coming to us in the future.”

In addition to the kindergarten rooms, the elementary office was moved from the interior of the building to the front, a change that administrators said was essential to building security. Now, all visitors must pass through the office before continuing to other areas.

Boys and girls lockerrooms were converted to bathrooms, and the district also added a handicap-accessible bathroom and another for staff.

The four old kindergarten rooms will be converted to preschool rooms — Early Childhood and Family Education Director Mary Jo Hensel said the district’s preschool program has doubled in the past five years — and the old office space has been converted into rooms for small-group and student-intervention work.

The elementary will also now have enough room to add a computer lab and relocate its art classroom. The art classroom will be replaced with a so-called large-motor room where students can work on physical skills.

“Now we have the space to fit our needs,” said Principal Sharon Schindle. “We can’t say enough good about it.”

The school will host an open house for the addition from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 3.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News