Clarkdale Elementary Students Celebrate New School with Ice Cream

At its Thursday night meeting, the Cobb County Board of Education voted to approve a $14.7 million construction bid to rebuild Clarkdale Elementary. In the wake of that decision, a quiet celebration was held by the divided school.

Ice cream cart service was provided to each classroom  in the single corridor that connects the entirety of the lower grades of Clarkdale, which encompasses a single wing on the Compton Elementary campus. As she pushed the cart of sweet treats, Assistant Principal Tammy Watson was greeted with cheers from the students of "Yeah, ice cream!" As she proceeded from room to room, she delivered two messages to the students: The new school has been approved, and Principal Marjorie Bickerstaff ordered a schoolwide ice cream celebration. There were no objections to the latter. 

Many of the teachers were on hand at the previous night's decision. Teacher Kevin O'Meara, who made a passionate plea to the school board to vote to rebuild, was still as excited on Friday as he was when he heard the board's final vote.

"I am just so glad it was approved and to hear them finally say that it was approved was as if they'd broken ground right there," he said.

Jaye Goddard, a teacher at Clarkdale for 27 years, was very active in the months leading up to the decision.

She explained, "I have been here a long time, and it's because of the children, community and sense of pride related to learning. I have been offered positions elsewhere over the years, but never entertained leaving here. Had it been decided to not rebuild, I was prepared to retire at the end of the school year. Now, I can wait until we're in the new school and the circle will be complete."  

When asked what they thought, kids in K-2 all had the same answer before devouring their ice cream, "It's great news!"