Rockland celebrates end of school construction work in Libertyville
Confetti and dancing were part of the fun Tuesday in celebrating the completion of a $5.3 million construction project at Rockland School in Libertyville.
Students, Libertyville Elementary District 70 officials and others marked the end of more than seven months of work to add a new gym, art and music classrooms, office space, front entrance, parking and other amenities to the district's oldest school building.
"For everyone, it's a celebration because it gives us the appropriate space we need and an art-specific room, a music-specific room and a gym we've never had," Principal Jeff Knapp said.
An expansion of the K-5 school had been under consideration for a few years, as the district installed mobile classrooms in 2014. Rockland opened in 1927 and had several additions, the last one being 20 years ago.
The new gym, for example, replaces a much smaller space that was built in 1958 and doubled as a lunchroom and event area.
"I'm very excited about the new gym. I've been here since second grade," said Sofia Lombardo, student council president. The new rooms, will be "fantastic," she added.
"We're all dancing to 'Can't Stop the Feeling' and probably we're going to do the 'Raptor' (unofficial school song) dance, which is my favorite dance," Sofia said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Knapp said all remaining issues had been resolved and the new classrooms and gym will be available Wednesday for student instruction and use.
The front office, Knapp's office and the nurse's office have been open and operating for several weeks.
Nonetheless, the work that began last June on the last day of school was celebrated Tuesday with speeches, confetti cannons and the Rockland Chorus Club.
Mobile classrooms have been removed and the school office reconfigured to provide a more secure entrance. Remodeling also included adding a small group office, new building access and a vestibule on the west side of the school, additional teachers-only parking on the west side, and updating and replacing the building sprinkling system.
The east side parking lot was resurfaced, and the roof over the school office and old gym was replaced.