Wednesday, September 13, 2023–6:22 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

Work on the much-needed expansion at West End Elementary School is continuing with the building starting to go up.

West End Principal Dennis Drummond gave an update during Tuesday’s Rome City School Board meeting.

“They are putting the walls up, he told the board. “When you come on Friday you are going to see walls. Of course, this is the beginning of our new two-story, eight-classroom addition, which we dearly need. Thank your support of that. It’s a fantastic complex. It’s going to be built to withstand a tornado, from what I understand. There will be a generator there to provide backup systems. It’s just great classroom space for us.”

As part of the project, the cafeteria will also see an expansion.

“We are going to be able to put about 100 more students in our cafeteria,” Drummond said. Then there is the parking lot, and maybe you will get to experience the parking lot when you come by on Friday. About half of it is operational at this time.”

Work is also underway on five additional classrooms and a playground at East Central.

The school system is using $14 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, essentially split between the two schools.

The federal program administered by the Department of Education allocated funds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides emergency financial assistance to public school districts across the country.

However, school systems can use the program funding to invest in infrastructure and programs as well.