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New Duff gym will open early in school year

Duff Elementary School is busy today, but there’s not a teacher or student in sight.

The school is full of construction workers busy finishing up the 2019 Bond project there.

“All work within the existing school is on schedule to complete prior to the return of teachers,” said 91��Ƭ�� project manager Jim Owens, who is overseeing the major construction project at Duff. “The work on the gym/storm shelter is scheduled to complete shortly after the students return.”

The new 5,030-square-foot gym addition, which is replacing Duff’s tiny gym that was demolished last summer, is now fully bricked. The roofing is wrapping up this week and will be followed with the installation of the roof-top HVAC units.

With six basketball goals, striping for basketball and volleyball, two restrooms, an office and storage, the new gym will be a vast improvement over the old, tiny gym. Plus, the new gym has been constructed as a storm shelter, sized to accommodate the entire student and staff population.

There’s a lot of work going on inside the existing building, too, from restroom renovations to new ceilings in all the corridors and the cafeteria. The new ceilings are nearly complete. Plus, a new sprinkler system has been installed throughout the school and some new light fixtures have been installed in some classrooms.

The new library is coming along, too. The old library was demolished along with an adjacent classroom which is being absorbed into what will be a bigger, better library. And now the entire space is being completely renovated. The ceiling grid is going up now and the sheetrock is almost complete.

“It will be great to have an updated 21st-century media center for our 21st-century learners,” said Duff librarian Stacie Farr when the library construction started over last winter break. “Our school is one of the oldest elementary buildings in the district and it is wonderful that this bond will provide all the necessary updates for our students. What is amazing about this update is that it will impact every student and staff member. We will all benefit from this new and improved space.”

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