The new Sam Adams Elementary School building opened to the public Tuesday with a community walk-through, and students were welcomed into the building for classes Wednesday.
Cassopolis School Board member Scott Ward, who spearheaded the bond effort that funded the renovation project, led one of the tours of the building Tuesday and said the project was several weeks behind schedule after the winter.
But the Skanska Construction team made up for lost time this summer and the school opened in time for the first day of classes.
The two-level building will house 700 students in kindergarten through sixth grade with a remodeled gymnasium and new playground equipment.
The $16 million bond also funded two new wings — one for kindergarten and first grade classrooms and another two-story wing for second through sixth grade rooms. Thirty-one new rooms have been added to the building.
The bond also brought new technology into the classrooms, including interactive whiteboards, laptops, document cameras, iPads and surround sound systems in each classroom.
“It’s absolutely wonderful,” said Shelli Burks, who is in charge of the computer lab. “There is nothing more we could ask for.”
Dozens of local families attended the walk-through and were impressed with the changes.
“It’s like moving into a new house,” Burks said. “There is a lot of pride in what we do here.”