BCSS Opens New Adairsville Elementary School, Kingston Addition

ADAIRSVILLE, GA — Bartow County students, staff and administrators on Monday celebrated the opening of a new school and an addition to another facility just days before the start of the 2018-19 school year.

A ribbon cutting was held Monday for the new Adairsville Elementary School and Kingston Elementary School addition. Students in the Bartow County School System will return to the classroom on Wednesday, Aug. 8.

“The openings of the new facilities are a culmination of the communities and school district working together to provide outstanding facilities and opportunities for our students and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page. “The ribbon cuttings are a celebration of these partnerships.”

The new Adairsville Elementary, which costs about $18.9 million to build, is "perfectly fit" for 900 students, BCSS said. It boasts 53 classrooms, plus art, music, physical education and computer rooms.

“The opening of Adairsville Elementary School has been a long time coming, and we are excited about this new home,” said Adairsville Elementary School Principal Melissa Zarefoss.

Construction workers broke ground 41 years ago at the old site on King Street. Eight years later, a gym was added and about nine years after that, four new classroom additions took shape.

“Our new facility comes with the same expectations for learning, offering children a strong academic foundation in a safe environment,” Zarefoss added. “The innovative and spacious building is an ideal school setting that embraces the idea of meeting all students' needs in a variety of settings. Our atmosphere has teachers who are knowledgeable, care about student learning, and adapt their instruction to meet the needs of their learners.”

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At Kingston Elementary School, the addition of a new wing will eliminate the use of portable classrooms, which has been a reality for several classes for the last 12 years. Due to continued growth and a strong commitment to excellence, the $2.2 million wing was built to house four fifth-grade classrooms, two instructional support classrooms, restrooms, a teacher workroom and bookroom for teaching materials.

“We are excited to open our beautiful and spacious new wing,” KES Principal Philena Johnson said. “We are thankful for the attention to detail in construction as well as the county's commitment to providing our students with classrooms equipped with current technology and durable new furniture. The new addition will promote collaboration and a strong sense of community in our school.”

Both projects were made possible thanks to Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, funds.

Images via Bartow County School System