MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -
Don't let the outside of Floyd Elementary fool you. No doubt it's an old building, but major improvements welcomed students this school year.
"Just came in and just did like our own HGTV makeover," Floyd Elementary Principal Ibrahim Lee said.
This is Lee's first year at Floyd.
"From painting to sanding the floors to cleaning, you name it, out with the old and in with the new," Lee said.
Renovations included new hardwood floors in some classrooms.
Lee says the school didn't make AYP, but teachers and students are already heading in right direction to meet the standards this school year.
"We missed it by a few fields, but we are very optimistic. [Our goal is for] every student being able to be proficient in math, proficient in reading," Lee said.
This is Latonya Sharpe's second year at Floyd and her first year teaching kindergarten.
"This is our second home, this is the students' second home, so we want to spruce it up, make it bright, make it more inviting for them and they came in the first day. It really boosted morale," Sharpe said.
Sharpe says parents are critical to students' success because budget cuts have forced aides out of the classroom.
"Every child, make sure that you are getting all their needs meet and it's kind of hard when you have 25, 30 kids in a classroom and you really don't have any help," Sharpe said.
But Sharpe says she's pacing herself. She says being able to have fun while learning makes the workload easier.
The principal says parent participation has been outstanding this year. He says the first open house of the year last week and it was standing room only. A sign he says, that school is moving forward.
Floyd Elementary school's motto is "Together we build, success in every field."
There are 427 students and 25 teachers.
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