It will likely be a few years before students will be greeted by a new Johnson Elementary School, but those that arrive at the decades-old facility this year will have something new at their disposal. In fact, it’s already been seeing plenty of public activity.

 

According to JES Assistant Principal Heather Holbert, the new playground close to where the fourth and fifth grade students are situated on the campus is up and running. And kids have already been running to it on a regular basis since it was completed in recent weeks.

 

“(Principal) Mrs. (Vicki) Huffman and I have been watching out the window and kids have been playing on it all day,” said Holbert. “It seems like the longer the day goes on the more children arrive and enjoy it.”

 

The presence of the playground is a result of the work of the Johnson Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Holbert said the group raised a large portion of the funds needed to allow the school to add another playground on the existing school property.

 

“The PTA does so much for our school and the students,” said Holbert. “They worked hard raising funds and we reached out to the school to the (Harrison County) School Board to match us on the cost of the playground. The school board did that with each school in need based on coming up with a match and they provided their match out of contingency.”

 

The playground, like most educational items, didn’t come cheap. Holbert said she believed it was roughly $30,000.

 

For those who don’t think a playground can be educational, they would be incorrect. According to Holbert, the new playground actually comes with a physical education curriculum for the fourth and fifth grade students that will be utilizing it.

 

“It has a rock wall and an obstacle course among its features and the curriculum is set up to allow our gym teacher to work with students,” she said. “It’s designed for core strength.”

 

It will also likely get a hefty workout during recess as well. The playground is one of three at the facility and Holbert said each one is geared toward a certain age of children at the school and located closest to where those students learn. The only downside is that, as one might expect, they playgrounds are only useful during the warm weather months. For a school that currently has no gymnasium, that is one of many issues that the staff has to overcome.

 

“With us lacking gym space, having another outdoor alternative is nice, even if it isn’t available for the entire school year,” said Holbert. “I think having the new playground is a nice addition and having it ready for use is a great way to kick off the school year.”

 

For those who also may believe that installing a playground for a school that will likely be demolished in the next few years is poor planning, Holbert said that’s already been addressed. In fact, she said it’s not an issue at all.

 

“When this playground was purchased, one of the things done was to make sure it can be transferred,” said Holbert. “This will be going to a new school when it is built.”