Lexington-Richland School District Five recently held two ceremonies for new classroom wing additions at Chapin Elementary and Lake Murray Elementary schools.

The wings are part of the approved $240 million bond referendum, which 68.54% of Lexington County voters supported on Election Day 2024. 

The new additions will add 20,000 square feet to Lake Murray Elementary and 16,000 square feet to Chapin Elementary. Both expansions are expected to be completed in 2026.

“This is huge for Lake Murray Elementary School and is such a huge milestone for our students,’’ Principal Kristen Eubanks said in the media release. “This new classroom wing addition will allow us to impact more students moving forward in a nice facility. Students will continue to receive the state-of-the-art education they are used to getting here at our amazing school. This groundbreaking represents progress and ensures that our students continue to receive the very best.”

The new wing at Lake Murray will replace 16 portable classrooms and include 18 classrooms, adding nearly 432 student seats, according to the release. 

“This project is made possible by the community and delivered for the community,” Superintendent Akil E. Ross said during the Aug. 6 ceremony. “These new classrooms are the progress that will come to this site. Our children will continue to learn and grow in a new space that will impact generations to come. We thank our partners, we thank our Board, voters and we thank our families for choosing to be a part of School District Five. We are excited about this new project and look forward to cutting the ribbon when the new wing is complete.”

At Chapin Elementary, the new wing will replace eight portables and include 12 classrooms, adding around 288 seats.

“Our theme this year is ‘Still growing, still going, still good’, and the addition of this new wing is the perfect reflection of our theme,” Principal Amy Sgorrano said. “It not only expands our physical space, but it allows our students to have rooms inside the building and embodies our continued growth and unwavering momentum. It also reflects the deep commitment of our stakeholders to the success of every student who walks through our  doors and the bright future we are shaping together.”

The district also said these new wings will add to the maximum capacity in each school.

“I think it is important that we do the groundbreaking on a rainy day so that when we cut the ribbon, it will be a sunny day for students in our community,” Ross added.

To learn more and track the progress of all projects included in the bond referendum, visit www.lexrich5.org/bond.