(Left to right)  Principal Sandra Douglas, rising fifth grader Jovon Ebbs, Area IV Elementary Assistant Superintendent Paula Johnson, School Board member Tarvald Smith, rising fourth grader Jonathan Polk, School Board member Vereta Lee, former superintendent Charlotte Placide, rising second grader David Catherine, Superintendent John Dilworth, School Board member Jill Dyason, CSRS/Garrard Program Management Director Earl Kern, School Board Vice President Jay Augustine, School Board member W.T. Winfield and Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle.

Despite a slightly muddy work site due to last night’s rain, about 40 community members, school district and school staff, School Board members and students turned out this morning, May 26, for a special groundbreaking ceremony.  At 4700 Denham St., the location of the now demolished former Claiborne Elementary School, adult VIPs used gold shovels while students wielded smaller red shovels to kick off construction on the new Claiborne Elementary School.

Once completed and opened in August 2011, the $14.8-million school will have 94,698 square feet – enough to house 825 students in grades Pre-K through 5.  The two-story facility will include 38 core academic classrooms, four self-contained classrooms, six small group instruction classrooms and teacher centers on each wing.  To help ease the flow of traffic and to get buses off the narrow streets as soon as possible, Denham Street will be extended to intersect with North Foster Drive.

Currently, Claiborne Elementary is split into two schools – Claiborne Upper and Claiborne Lower, according to Principal Sandra Douglas.  The lower elementary site contains grades Pre-K through 1 and is located at 4501 Winbourne Ave.  The upper elementary site contains grades 2-5 and is located at 1650 N. Acadian Thruway East.  The original Claiborne Elementary School on Denham Street was torn down last year so a new school could be built.