Lexington-Richland School District Five held two ribbon-cutting ceremonies to celebrate the completion of two new classroom wing additions at Chapin Elementary School and Lake Murray Elementary on July 23.

The new wings at both schools are being added to help accommodate the new educational structure the district is implementing in August. The new 23,000-square-foot classroom wing at Lake Murray Elementary replaces 16 portables at the school and contains 18 classrooms, adding about 432 seats. This allows the school to be able to increase its maximum capacity.

“This new classroom wing is an exciting milestone for our school,” Lake Murray Elementary School Principal Kristen Eubanks said in a news release. “When our students return in August, they will walk into a beautiful new learning space designed to support their success for years to come. This addition allows us to serve more students while continuing to provide the high-quality, innovative education our families expect. We are excited to open these doors and welcome students into a facility that reflects our commitment to their future.”

The new 16,000-square-foot classroom wing at Chapin Elementary School replaces eight portables at the school and adds 12 classrooms, or about 288 seats. This allows the school to increase its maximum capacity.

“This ribbon-cutting marks an exciting new chapter for Chapin Elementary School,” Principal Amy Sgorrano said. “This beautiful new addition symbolizes our 50 years of excellence and represents far more than extra classrooms.   It reflects our continued growth, our commitment to providing the best possible learning environment for every student and the incredible support of our community. We are excited to welcome students into a space designed to inspire learning, foster connections and help shape the bright future we are building together.”

Both additions are projects of the 2024 bond referendum.