Face-lift puts Q.C. Elementary in new light

As the crowd counted down from 10, Queen Creek Unified School District Superintendent James Murlless climbed a ladder Monday evening and flipped the switch to turn on Queen Creek Elementary School’s new marquee.

The light flickered on, and about 50 parents, students and staff cheered.

“It works,” several called out.

The new marquee, featuring the eagle mascot and words proudly proclaiming Queen Creek Elementary as “excelling,” is one of the last visual pieces to the school’s extensive face-lift.

“I think it’s really nice,” said kindergartner Megan Flanigan, while holding her teddy bear. “I think it’s really cool to see a sign being lighted.”

Work has been under way throughout the past year on improvements such as painting the school’s exterior and adding a new wing for the district’s Early Childhood Development Center.

“The students are excited because they’re not the old school anymore. It feels like a new school,” said principal Sheri Horton, who started teaching first grade at the school in 1996. “The teachers are excited and say it’s a long time coming.”

The marquee was an added bonus to the planned work. The $3.3 million face-lift, which came from bond money, was completed under budget. The school still had the $8,000 needed to replace the old marquee, which was falling apart and had been in place since the school opened 18 years ago.

It was a first impression that parent Jackie Lawlor couldn’t wait for the district to replace.

“It was cracking, totally fading and ugly,” said Lawlor, whose son, Michael, is in the second grade. “The new one is a nice color, eye-catching, beautiful and easy to read driving by. Now the school is just as nice looking as the newer schools.”

It’s a long list of changes for the school. The new Early Childhood Development Center, with 10 new kindergarten and preschool classrooms, brings the preschool classes from across the district to one location, making it easier for teachers to collaborate, Horton said.

The library was doubled in size, and has an extra $11,000 worth of new books and dictionaries. The new dictionaries replace the old 1970s versions, Horton said.

Rhonda Boelens, a playground aide, said the most dramatic change is the expanded library.

“We’re an older school, and it’s exciting to see new things happening,” said Boelens, a six-year school employee. “It makes it more exciting for everyone. It’s happier, cheerful and updated. It looks wonderful.”

The playground has new equipment and new sun shades. The front office was remodeled to be more inviting.

The parking lot was repaved and the traffic flow was changed to relieve traffic on Chandler Heights Road. The school is at 23636 S. 204th St.

“The first day I walked in and construction crews were here. It was a little scary,” said Horton, who started as the new principal three days before school started. “Now, it’s like being on a long trip and coming home.”

New blinds on all the windows help with lowering air conditioning costs. New bathrooms, storage areas and rooms were added for occupational therapy, a physical education office and an expanded staff lounge.

Horton also is working with the Queen Creek Historical Society to put old town photos throughout the school. Several already hang in the lobby.