Owensboro Public School officials along with Newton Parrish leaders and students broke ground on the new Newton Parrish Expansion Project at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 at Newton Parrish Elementary School.
The project calls for a new athletic/performing arts center (APAC), a new family resource center, a renovated media center and additional classroom space.
“Our students are so excited for this enormous day. The expansion will help us to provide more space to accommodate our growing enrollment,” said Steve Bratcher, Newton Parrish principal.
The total project cost for Newton Parrish is expected to be around $8.5 million.
The APAC addition will have two classrooms, but will also free up other existing classrooms so that the school could accommodate an additional 100 students.
The gymnasium will include seating space and a new stage.
The media center will be moved to what has been the gymnasium addition.
To save on energy costs, several upgrades will be installed like geothermal heating and cooling and LED lighting.
“I want to thank our board of education for making this groundbreaking possible. Their approval shows their commitment to providing our students with a world-class education with heavy emphasis in the fine and performing arts,” said Dr. Nick Brake, OPS Superintendent.
The expansion is scheduled for completion before the start of the next school year. RBS Design Group is serving as the architecture firm for the project. Danco Construction will build the expansion. Newton Parrish was built in 1958 and has a current enrollment of 431 students.
