A few Cumberland County commissioners and school board members got a first look late yesterday at the new Crab Orchard Elementary School. The school is nearing completion with an estimated finish in the middle of September 2019.

Once Upland Design Group signs off on the project (construction completed and cleaned), it will be turned over to the Cumberland County School System. Then, furniture and other items will be moved into the new school to prepare it to be operational. The projected opening is set to be in late September or early October 2019.

This project has a lot of the new and some of the old. Much of the old part of the school will be demolished (mainly upper grade rooms, the gym, cafeteria, and pods) but some of the west side near where the lower grade classes are now will still remain.

“The demolition will take place shortly after the new school is operational and has students in it. The demolition work will be away from students,” said Kim Chamberlain of Upland Design Group.

Chamberlain said the capacity of students for the new school is around 500.

The new school includes 16 new classrooms, a science classroom, an agriculture classroom and a music room. The classrooms are large compared to the old school. One new feature is a water bottle filling station for students that is right next to the water fountains. Another new feature is all LED lights with an automatic shut off sensor if someone is not in a classroom after a short time has passed.

The cafeteria offers the latest equipment with two serving lines. The cafeteria and kitchen is also air conditioned.

1057 News was part of the tour yesterday with officials. We offer the following pictures to let you see what we did in the new Crab Orchard Elementary School: