Winslow Elementary School construction on track to add needed classrooms

Function is continuing on a $2.4 million growth of Winslow Elementary School at 285 Benton Ave. Faculty officials have been informed development should be concluded by June. Over, the school’s rear entrance. Morning Sentinel file

WINSLOW — Faculty officials stated lately that perform is continuing on a $2.4 million expansion of Winslow Elementary Faculty and should be concluded by June.

The undertaking addresses a dire require for far more space at the school at 285 Benton Ave., according to officials. It consists of a two-story enlargement incorporating four school rooms, two utility areas and two bathrooms.

South Portland-primarily based Ledgewood Development broke ground on the venture in August, and the Winslow School Board furnished an update very last week, with board Chairman Joel Selwood stating, “Everything is going together good.”

The undertaking is being funded making use of federal coronavirus aid funds meant to enable for social distancing in faculties.

“We’re pleased we’re ready to do it without having any expenditure on the neighborhood taxpayer,” Selwood explained. “That’s generally a plus.”

The revenue was awarded by the state to 20 faculty districts that necessary funding to program for a risk-free return to in-man or woman instruction. Superintendent Peter Thiboutot claimed Friday a single of the allowable uses of the funds was making development.

Erica Gower, principal at Winslow Elementary Faculty, stated Friday that each individual place is accounted for, with no multipurpose place to accommodate enrichment programming, particular education or little groups for extra do the job in math or literacy. That instruction is even now taking place, Gower reported, but in the backs of school rooms or often in hallways.

The school has been expanded in advance of. Gower reported right before she turned principal five several years back, her predecessor oversaw the addition of a initially and 2nd grade class to decrease class sizes.

Gower reported issues worsened after Winslow’s junior higher school was closed in 2019. While the junior higher faculty reopened at a new setting up in 2020, it was only for seventh and eighth graders. Very last year, sixth quality was incorporated into the elementary school.

“It got genuinely, genuinely limited in this article,” Gower explained.

She stated some teams, including just one that signifies the L.C. Bates Museum in Hinckley, have uncovered it tough to come in to produce guest presentations simply because there is minimal place.

Guidance periods for math and literacy would preferably also be held in multipurpose rooms, and not at the backs of classrooms, Gower explained.

“We’re creating it perform the finest that we can at this level,” Gower stated. “Ideally, we would have an further house for them to do little groups in a classroom area that’s tranquil.”

With the assure of 4 new school rooms by June, it appears to be ultimately Gower will have house to grow. She claimed she is hunting forward to increasing enrichment chances and spreading out distinctive training instruction and companies.

“We’re energized to have the added area,” she said, “and make factors better for our pupils.”

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