Bay City Tribune

As the children return to Matagorda Elementary School from their summer vacation, the much-anticipated additions to their school won't quite be finished, but pretty close.

When the first day of school rolls around on Monday Aug. 24, the children will be able to enjoy an early childhood development center, a brand new food court-style cafetorium, a UIL regulation gym and outdoor track.

Construction crews will continue to finish the multimedia library and workout room.

The new facilities came about as a result of planning for the future growth of Matagorda, said Laura Shay, Matagorda ISD superintendent.

"What's really exciting at this point is we're actually seeing a vision come to light," she said.

"We're going to be prepared for the growth that is upcoming."

"All of this planning was about trying to combine educational improvement but also for our community as a whole to benefit from this," said Shay.

Shay attributes the success of the project to local volunteers who donated time and resources on different projects to help keep on budget.

Donald Simons, Matagorda ISD board of trustees secretary, was a key player in the success of the project.

He volunteered his services at no cost to be the project manager and has been a part of the work everyday, said Shay.

"His work has been invaluable," she said.

The early childhood center was built as an expansion classroom from the kindergarten room.

The center will have the capabilities of helping to promote higher functioning pre-kindergarteners to participate in some of the kindergarten activities and allow for struggling kindergarteners to move to the early childhood lab to focus on developing their skills.

The cafetorium will seat 500 at capacity.

The room is separated into an upper and lower level of open seating that will accommodate lunchroom and café-style tables and chairs or cushioned folding chairs for larger crowds.

The hope of the school board is that the stage in the auditorium area will serve to attract fine arts performances for the community.

As the school district considers impending growth, they hope to add seventh and eight grade to the district.

In anticipation of the change, the new gym was constructed to meet UIL standards for basketball and volleyball and includes bleachers for the public.

In the meantime, the gym will be used for regular physical education classes during school and various community functions after hours.

Already plans are in the works for a community intramural basketball team to use the gym along with Wednesday night church youth groups.

When the workout room is finished it will be filled with loaned and donated workout machines from community members.

It will also feature dressing rooms complete with lockers, restroom facilities and showers.

A few extra features in the expansion is a built-in concession stand strategically located between the cafetorium and gym.

Although the multi-media library and workout room are not finished, Shay said they should be complete by October 10, just in time for the dedication ceremony of the building on the afternoon of Matagorda Heritage Day.

The ceremony will take place inside the new addition at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The community is invited to attend the event that will include a leveling ceremony by the Matagorda Masonic Lodge, remarks from local and state officials, and an opportunity to purchase a commemorative tile that can be customized and will grace the walls of the high-ceilinged foyer or the new addition.