by Jennifer Reece

Reporter

Hudson -- Art teacher Mary Lou Africa has spent the past few weeks getting her room at Ellsworth Hill Elementary ready for the new school year.

"I was here the very first day," Africa said. "You want it to be set up as much as possible."

She is just one of many teachers getting their classrooms in shape for the new year in the brand new, $11 million school at Stow and Middleton roads. The 66,000-square-foot facility, built on 17 acres of land, will house preschool and second-grade students once school begins Aug. 29.

Construction was funded with money from the income tax increase approved by voters in 2004.

With only a punch list of items left to complete, the school is ready for its first year of educating students.

Africa, who has been a teacher with the district for 21 years, said the most difficult part was the move itself. She had more than 230 boxes to move from McDowell Elementary to Ellsworth Hill over the summer.

"Now comes the fun part -- getting it all to look good," she said.

Each of the 21 classrooms is being organized and decorated by the teacher who will spend the next nine months there in the coming school year.

Africa's room, painted in yellow, red, blue and gray, will allow second-graders to have a special place to perfect their art skills for one hour each week.

Ellsworth Hill

Ellsworth Hill has a security system in place to make sure visitors stop at the front office before being allowed inside a second set of doors leading into the school building.

The preschool classrooms have their own bathrooms and cubicles for students' belongings. Restroom facilities and cubicles for second-graders will be outside of each of their classrooms.

In addition to a large media center, there is a music room, health clinic and conference room. The gymnasium has a portable stage that can be used for school performances.

Children will be able to see their food being prepared in the cafeteria, thanks to the large glass windows surrounding the kitchen.

The building, according to District Business Manager Paul Smith, is energy efficient. Lights operate by sensors and turn off automatically after 20 minutes with no one in a room. Two boilers will be used interchangeably to heat the entire building.

One area yet to be completed is the outdoor playground, which will be funded by a $200,000 grant from the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation.

If funds become available, the school site will allow for further expansion in the future, Smith said.

A community-wide grand opening and dedication open house at Ellsworth Hill is slated for Sept. 8 at noon.

Evamere Elementary

Meanwhile, kindergarten and first-grade students at Evamere Elementary School will be able to enjoy the expansion and renovation that took place at the North Hayden Parkway over the past few months.

The school, built in 1956, added 6,700 square feet, which includes seven new classrooms, an expanded media center and an additional set of restrooms.

The $1.3 million project, funded by the income tax increase, also included the renovation of existing classrooms by putting in new ceilings and lights.

Smith said other buildings in the district also have received new lighting and boilers, which are more energy efficient.

E-mail: jreece@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3145