Officials Renovate And Reopen Davenport Elementary: Video

DAVENPORT, FL — Monday marks the first day of school for many around Polk County, whether it's face-to-face or online, and it's the opening of the newly renovated Davenport Elementary building that was originally built in 1927. (Video tour of school provided below by Polk County Public Schools).

It was used as a school until 2009, when Davenport School of the Arts moved to a new location, said the Polk County Public Schools in a news release.

In addition to renovating the building, a 16-classroom addition was built. During the renovation, Polk County Public Schools say special care was added to restore features of the original building, including the auditorium, hardwood floors, orchestra pit and entryway.

The total cost of the project was about $35.4 million.

The school’s coronavirus precautions include one-way traffic patterns throughout campus and social distancing in all classrooms and common areas, said the district. Students and staff at all Polk County Public Schools are required to wear face coverings this school year.

At Davenport Elementary, the capacity of students/teachers is 835.

The school district said 495 students are enrolled as of Monday, and it's split with half of that number taking classes online with the other half physically going to the school for face-to-face learning.

The district says there are 49 teachers employed at Davenport Elementary, and out of those 36 will teach on campus and 13 will teach via online.

The in-person, student-to-teacher ratio at the school is 1:10.