BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Before moving into a new building, you want to make sure everything is complete and to your satisfaction.
With that in mind, Bradford County Superintendent of Schools Will Hartley met with Southside Elementary faculty and staff on May 25 to share the news that students would not be attending the new Bradford Elementary School until the day they return from the Thanksgiving break (Nov. 27).
Until then, the students (including sixth-graders) zoned for the new school will start the 2023-24 year at the Southside campus.
Hartley reminded Southside faculty and staff that he had told them a month ago that there could possibly be a delay in the new school opening. He then said, “That possibility has happened. The electrical component that we talked about — the switch gear, where the power actually comes into the school — is literally two weeks too late.”
Those involved with the construction told him they could push to make the new school ready to at least be inhabited by the start of the school year, Hartley said. However, there would still need to be things that would have to be done before the project is fully complete.
“My thinking is we need to do this one time the right way and be patient,” Hartley said.
Hartley said it has been determined that the Southside campus can accommodate the students who are zoned for Bradford Elementary, noting the number of students would be less than when half of the Starke Elementary student population had to attend Southside for a while when mold issues had to be taken care of at Starke Elementary in 2013.
“That was my main concern, making sure we had the space and that it wasn’t space that was like places where you shouldn’t have children,” Hartley said, adding, “It’s doable.”
Though the news could be initially viewed as a setback, Hartley chose not to view the situation in a positive light. For example, he said he envisions having days the different grade levels take field trips to the new school.
“The kids would get oriented with the school. They would be more comfortable with it,” Hartley said, adding, “I honestly think the kids will be super excited to take a field trip over there. I think we can make that a cool experience for them.”
Hartley said the main positive is simply the fact that when students, faculty and staff move into the new school, they’ll be moving into one that’s not partially finished. The additional time allows any bugs to be worked out and to accommodate any changes. Hartley said in recent trips to the site with Principal Cassie Melvin and Assistant Principal Laurén Morgan, they saw things they didn’t like that can now be done to their satisfaction.
“It’s going to be absolutely beautiful,” Hartley said, “but we need to do it right one time instead of rushing into it.”
Teachers can use the scheduled planning time they’ll have after school to move items to their classrooms at the new school, Hartley said, adding, “Most of the stuff you’re going to be moving is really just going to be your own personal stuff — your curriculum items and those kinds of things.”
Plans are to have an open house for Bradford Elementary students’ parents on Nov. 16 before the Thanksgiving break, Hartley said. He said he also wants to host an event for the public at the new school.
“It’s been 27 years since we’ve built a school in this county,” he said. “They’re going to want to see it.”
