Broadneck Elementary Gets Major Makeover

The downstairs wing of (BES) is a flurry of activity this week as construction workers busily finish up a summer-long project that has transformed the area from open space learning to state-of-the-art classrooms of the 21st century.

“At first, some of our teachers really supported the open space concept,” said BES Assistant Principal Edmund Kling. “They liked the collaboration and close support from their colleagues, but once they saw the plans for the update, everyone was on board.”

This summer as students and teachers have enjoyed their summer vacation, the BES downstairs wing has been transformed. Every classroom will not only having walls, but will be wired to be a “smart” classroom with SMART Boards, document cameras with projectors and Centrios remotes that allow teachers to know in a split second whether students are grasping instructional concepts. Each room also has an Airliner and surround sound. 

But that isn’t everything. Kling said the work has also included new floors, a fire sprinkler system, fresh paint, new heat and air conditioning systems, a new ceiling, new light fixtures, and even new lockers so every student will have one.

“They even busted through the concrete walls for new windows downstairs,” said Kling. “And now we have ADA-approved accessible bathrooms as well.” 

The work began right after the students left the building in June and will continue at least through Friday. Old desks, tables and file cabinets were moved upstairs where they will be picked up and taken to the school system’s warehouse, often to be restored and reused.

“It has been a struggle for the custodians,” said Kling. “They would clean up an area and, two days later, it would be covered with dust again from the work."

With the brand new kindergarten wing and this new updated construction, the school building transformation will be completed next summer when the third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade areas are updated in the upstairs wing.

To allow for a little more time to get everything ready for this school year, BES will open on Wednesday, Aug. 24, one day later than most other county elementary schools.