Photos: Cedar Hills Celebrates Building Expansion

Cedar Hills Elementary School kicked off its 45th school year Thursday night by celebrating its new building addition.

Two classrooms and an elevator were added onto the south side of the school. A short program and ribbon-cutting was held at 5:30 p.m. Afterward, students and parents ventured inside the school to see classrooms - both old and new - and meet their teachers.

The classrooms, which will be used for music and art, address steadily-rising enrollment at , 2225 W. Sycamore Ave. The school was essentially out of classroom space and even had to convert a computer lab into a classroom.

"It's going to take care of some needs right off the bat," Principal Ed Mittag . 

One of the empty classrooms has already been filled by fourth-grade class, Mittag said. The school also benefits from more storage space.

Elevators were installed to alleviate problems with getting equipment and even some students to the second floor - Mittag said he himself has helped carry students on crutches up the stairs.

Superintendent Sara Burmeister said at Thursday's event that she was happy that the addition - at a cost of a little more than $1 million - happened without a referendum or even an increase in property taxes. The district found money within its existing budget, she said.