"We've gone to Heaven," said Madisonville Primary Assistant Principal Angie Davis, as she looked around the $12.4 million new MPS building set to go in service Aug. 7.
Longtime MPS Principal David Hester and Director of Monroe County Schools Mike Lowry agreed the nearly 97,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility is a far cry from the old building next door, much of which is more than half a century old.

Davis, Hester and Lowry on Thursday gave The Advocate & Democrat a grand tour of the county's newest school while teachers, custodians and other staff continued with the move into the new school.
The public will have its chance to view the new school during an open house slated for Sunday, Aug. 2 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

"We are really proud of it," Lowry said. "I think the community will be too. I think the taxpayers will be happy."
Community Tectonics designed the school, which was constructed by Evans Construction Company from Clinton.

Both the architect and contractor are well known in Monroe County from previous school and other building projects.
The design for the pre-K-second-grade school is similar to Sweetwater Primary School, also a Community Tectonics-designed school that opened in 2003.
There is room for every need and program in the school.

Modern security equipment abounds with security cameras and the latest in classroom and communication technology.
Hester said the school's staff chose the colors and had a lot of say in helping tailor the design to meet school needs.

The gym/auditorium is bright and spacious and the lunchroom has colorful outdoor pictures.
Lowry said the school expects around 600 pupils when the doors open and the school is built for considerable future growth.
The 44-classroom facility is ultra modern with motion sensor lights in the bathrooms that turn off when no one is in them to save energy.

Like the new Madisonville Middle School, which opened just a few years ago, the new MPS will rely on a geothermal energy system that Lowry expects will save considerable money when compared to the old Madisonville Primary.

The old school will be torn down this fall with the exception of six of the newer classrooms.
The school system is finalizing plans on what to do with those six rooms, however likely uses include moving the Monroe Academy, Adult Education and other programs into them.
A computer lab and teacher's center are other possibilities for the remaining rooms from the old building.

By using the old MPS and former Madisonville Intermediate School site, Lowry said the county saved about $500,000.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101