PRATTVILLE − The first day of classes at the new Prattville Kindergarten School was greeted with squeals of delight, hugs, high fives and shouts of “Good morning!”
And that was just from the teachers and staff.
When the doors opened at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday and the 450 or so students began filing in, the level of excitement went through the roof.
For families, students and staff, it’s a big deal. The 87,000-square-foot building, built at a cost of about $30 million, replaces the old school downtown that was more than 100 years old. The new school is in east Prattville, off McQueen Smith Road and adjacent to the Daniel Pratt Elementary School campus.
Students head to the cafeteria for breakfast as they arrive for the first day in the new Prattville Kindergarten School in Prattville, Ala., on Wednesday January 15, 2025.
“It’s beautiful!” said Brooke Skeldon, who was placing balloons on the outside rails to the main entry hall. She owns Brooklin Events, which supplied the balloons inside and outside the school for the opening day dress-up. But she’s also mother to Cooper, a student.
“Everyone is so excited about the new school,” she said. “It’s sad leaving the old school because of all its history in Prattville. But everyone is so excited to be in the new school.
“Cooper is so happy to see his friends again.”
The new building’s exterior was designed to mimic the old school, complete with a copula over the main hall.
Prattville Kindergarten School in Prattville, Ala., on Wednesday January 15, 2025.
More: How long will the cold last in Alabama? Is more snow on the way?
Each of the 32 classrooms has a smart board and technology galore. There’s a wing for Pre-K students There are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) areas, and the library has age-appropriate height desks. The construction has unique features when you take time to look.
A classroom hall is reinforced to act as a storm shelter, able to hold everyone if conditions warrant. And the windows on the classroom doors are in the center of the door, not offset to the right-hand side. That makes it harder for anyone to break a window and reach in to attempt to open a locked door. Classrooms have keyed, deadbolt locks.
And there are small things like hot water in classrooms that seem to be a luxury when coming from an older, much-beloved, but older building.
Car riders began lining up at 6:45 a.m., with 7:15 a.m. being the time to begin unloading. Little hands waved excitedly from the vehicles. For students, it was the first day back since Christmas break. Teachers were given seven virtual learning days to complete the move and set up their new classrooms. Parents had to learn a new traffic pattern.
Students arrive by car for the first day in the new Prattville Kindergarten School in Prattville, Ala., on Wednesday January 15, 2025.
But early on, things appeared to be going swimmingly. Bus riders unloaded in the back of a central hall, and car riders came in the front. Then it was like herding cats to get the students to the new cafeteria for a hot breakfast before they got to see the new classroom digs.
An open house was held Sunday to give the youngsters a sneak peak. Still, the first day is the first day and there were friends to talk to, teachers to hug and a rainbow pallet of new colors to take in.
Principal Jodi Womble should have worn skates. It would have been easier for her as she navigated the halls, fussing over every detail and taking care of last-minute hiccups as the doors were about to open. She apologized to media for the frantic pre-opening pace.
“I’m so sorry, first day,” she said, as she went down another hall to take care of another matter.
Staff welcome students as they arrive for the first day in the new Prattville Kindergarten School in Prattville, Ala., on Wednesday January 15, 2025.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: $30M Prattville Kindergarten School opens to excitement and high fives