Mary Bramlett’s $750,000 renovation complete

By SCOTT POWELLLedger Staff Writer

Mary Bramlett Elementary student Jordan Phillips selects a book from one of the cabinets recently installed in his classroom. The cabinets were part of a $750,000 renovation of the school, which included a complete overhaul of the kitchen.

Mary Bramlett Elementary students were served lunch Monday in the kitchen that began undergoing a renovation in December. The contractor installed new equipment, including a cooler and freezer.

It marks the first significant change in the kitchen since cafeteria manager Inez McCluney began working at the school in 1983.

“We have used the same kitchen equipment since I got here with the exception of a new oven we were given about a decade ago,” McCluney said.

During the renovation project, Mary Bramlett Elementary cafeteria workers prepared meals in the Cherokee Alternative School near Limestone College. The meals were then transported to Mary Bramlett and served to students.

“We enjoyed doing it because it was a change. We served a lot of the same menu items as normal except for baking rolls and cakes, which we weren’t able to do,” McCluney said. “We enjoyed working in the kitchen at the alternative school. It was a change. We are glad to be back in the kitchen in here.”

Mary Bramlett Elementary classrooms were renovated with new carpet and cabinetry. The classrooms are now similar in appearance to newer classrooms in schools such as Grassy Pond and Northwest Elementary.

Sossamon Construction installed new carpet in the multipurpose room and placed a red tile floor midway through the main hallway. The remainder of the tile floor will be done this summer.

The state Department of Education gave the district a certificate of occupancy for Mary Bramlett Elementary last week. Teachers are in the process of settling into their new rooms.

“Our teachers have been working long hours,” Mary Bramlett Elementary Principal Dr. Zara Barnhill said. “Our teachers and students are excited to be back in their rooms.”

Mary Bramlett Elementary cafeteria workers are waiting until today to show students what they missed in the kitchen.

“Our first good meal will be Wednesday,” McCluney said. “We are serving fried chicken because we haven’t had fried chicken since the renovation work started.”

Alma Elementary students aren’t too far from joining Mary Bramlett students in enjoying fried chicken in a new kitchen. Alma has been without a kitchen this school year while a new kitchen is being built as part of a $1.8 million construction project.

Contractor Noble Construc-tion began installing the new kitchen floor this week, Southern Management senior project manager Jim Britton said. Kitchen equipment will be installed once the floor is completed.

The Alma Elementary kitchen is tentatively scheduled for completion by late April or early May.