100-year-old Mesopotamia school gets addition | News, Sports, Jobs

MESOPOTAMIA — The 100-year-old Mesopotamia Elementary School has a new $1.85 million addition that will provide a multipurpose room for various school events.

A dedication was recently held for the addition on the west side of the building which was completed in August.

Over 100 children in kindergarten classes

I go to school until the fifth grade.

Director Joanna Lukz said the original section of the building turned 100 in 2023.

She said the new multipurpose room will be used for gym classes, school programs and assemblies, volleyball and basketball, after school events and an upcoming Thanksgiving event for kids and families.

There is also a stage for music programs. The new 5,717-square-foot addition also includes new restrooms and storage space.

“It has more space, good ventilation and is easily accessible. We can have all the school programs here.” Lukz said.

Before the addition, programs were split to accommodate the public or would be scheduled at the high school, she said.

The hall was also used for the school board meeting in October.

Lukz said school board meetings are usually held at Bloomfield High School or in the elementary cafeteria, which has noisy equipment.

Groundbreaking on the addition took place in June 2023. Mullet Company was the design and construction contractor and Buehrer Group Architecture & Engineering, Inc. was the architect.

Officials said the project did not exceed the estimated cost.

Lukz said ESSER, or elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds, were used to pay for the project, along with grants and local funds.

The gym measures 3,500 square feet, the restrooms 404 square feet, and additional storage space of 187 square feet. Lukz said the current gym is on the lower level and is limited in space and there is only one set of restrooms. She said there was no ventilation in the basement, so the gym got very hot during the school year.

“Council members have wanted this for years” she said.

Outside the school, plans are to eventually put in a driveway leading to the addition. Lukz said it could be a car where people in vehicles or school buses can get in and drop off or pick up people in a continuous flow.

THANKSGIVING EVENT

“Our lunchtime Thanksgiving feast brings parents and family to the school for a Thanksgiving meal. We had to take everything downstairs and put everything down there. For the elderly and disabled it was a challenge to get in and out. We were crammed into this space. This year we will be in the new room with all the space we need.” Lukz said.

When she became principal seven years ago, she said she was amazed by the Thanksgiving dinner.

“It’s very comforting and welcoming. It’s a nice tradition the school does for the students and their families,” she said.

Bloomfield-Mespo Board of Education President David Peterson said the new hall allows for better accessibility for students and visitors.

“It provides a beautiful venue for performances and school programs. We were all excited to be able to get this addition,” Peterson said, adding that the district does not have to use local funds or ask voters to pass a tax.

Peterson said the universal room was built to be energy efficient and the lighting to last for many years.

John Sheets, who served as superintendent in the district until last July, said he was involved in planning the new addition.

“Last year we celebrated 100 years of the school and we discussed the need for an addition and more space,” he said.

Sheets served as superintendent throughout the project.

“It was much needed. We had the federal ESSER money, which allows the money to be used to increase the space for education. The community values ​​student education and has seen that our schools need more space.” Said the sheets.

Lukz said the new addition has created more opportunities to offer new programs.

She said the old gym will continue to be used as a severe weather location and also for storage.