Entering its 10th decade

When the break of day illuminates Emerson Hough Elementary School on Tuesday morning, it will signify more than simply the first day of the school year. It will also symbolize the return of a familiar place.

For the first time in six years, Emerson Hough will have kindergartners and other elementary-age students pass through its doors Tuesday as the 2016-17 school year begins. The building served as an elementary school from its construction in 1926 until 2010 when the district closed it as a cost-saving move.

After many financial moves by the district, along with reconfiguration surveys, forums and long discussions by the Newton Community School District Board of Education and administrators, the district is going with four K-4 elementary schools — one of which is Emerson Hough.

The administration offices and various special programs and services housed there the past few years have been redisbursed, clearing the way for perhaps the county’s most prized educational facility to again welcome elementary students each day. From improving the air conditioning to installing lockers to waxing floors and putting in new carpet, the building is practically smiling at incoming children and staff.

Jolene Comer, who was the Emerson Hough principal in 2008-09 and 2009-10 before the building closed as a school, headed up Berg Elementary for six years before getting her old job back when the facility reopened. She took the Newton Daily News on a tour of the meticulous preparations being made last week to prepare Emerson Hough for the arrival of students.

“I even managed to get my old mailbox again,” Comer said, pointing to the mail cubbies near the receptionist’s desk. “So much is familiar, but a lot has improved. The art room looks fantastic.”

The art room is one of the many spaces the Emerson Hough Elementary School staff is looking forward to seeing students use this year. As a corner room, it’s one of the many rooms that brings in ample natural light, and its recently refinished floor and large space will soon be home to enthusiastically pursued projects.

The library is another corner room that allows in much natural light. Complete with the mural dedicated to the late Sally Terlouw, the room was home to a Heartland AEA office, which has moved across town. The Heartland AEA will still have a small two-person office at Emerson Hough.

The music room was the superintendent’s office the past few years. Miranda Bratland, along with new district special education teachers Liz Mount and Melissa Randall and support staff, will now use that corner space for part of the district’s extended core special education programming.

Kindergartners and first-graders aren’t allowed to climb stairs as part of a regular school day per Iowa Code, so they’ll take the first floor. Third- and fourth-graders will head upstairs, place their coats or other belongings in brand new lockers and will be a part of classrooms on that floor.

The space formerly used by the Basics & Beyond alternative program is significantly modified. Changes include lockers where the cafeteria was located and a classroom in the spot that was the Basics main office.

The music room will now be on the east end of the building, on the first floor. It’s not nearly as big as the location now home to special education, but Comer said that’s one of the adjustments needed in bringing Emerson Hough back into its traditional role.

JoAnne Price, a Title I reading teacher, was busy setting up her small first-floor room during the tour. She said though the room is small, she’s come to appreciate things like the re-carpeting and painting that took place this summer.

The multi-purpose room and gym will go mostly unchanged.

Comer said there are about nine staff members returning to Emerson Hough who have worked in the building before. There are only five staff new to the district in the building, but there is a large number of either first- or second-year teachers under Comer’s supervision.

There is no SAM or assistant principal assigned to the campus.

Some of Comer’s staff followed her from what was called Berg Elementary School, now the grades 5-6 half of Berg Middle School. Secretary Lesa Blatchford is one of the staff, and the secretary already looks comfortable in the Emerson Hough front office despite having been at Berg for 20 years.

Comer said despite the building being set up nothing like its K-6 days, there are still moments when it’s like putting on an old baseball or softball mitt.

“We talk a lot about where things are located now, or how things will have to work,” Comer said. “But some things are right where we had them before. The other day, I opened a drawer instinctively to get an envelope and there they were.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com