Changes are coming soon for Elton Elementary School and students will reap the benefits.

The Jeff Davis Parish School Board is moving forward on plans for multiple renovation and upgrade projects at the school this summer.

Last month, the School Board awarded a $2.5 million construction contract to K&J Development for renovations at Elton Elementary School.

Plans for the project include construction of a new eight room classroom section with two restrooms and administrative offices. The project will allow the school to demolish an existing older building located on the north side of the campus.

Officials hope the project will be completed by the start of the 2024-2025 school year in August.

The project is being funded by a bond issue approved by voters.

Students can also expect a new look to the school’s cafeteria with new windows, walls and flooring. A new roof, kitchen vent and HVAC improvements are also planned, according to Superintendent John Hall.

The Jeff Davis Parish School Board’s finance committee gave approval this week for Hall and architect Steve Hotard to seek bids for the cafeteria project.

The bid is expected to be awarded in March with construction underway this summer, Hall said.

“This will be a summer project which will coincide with the construction project which we awarded last month,” Hall said.

“As soon as school is out for summer they will start the work to get it done because we are on a timeline,” he said.

The cafeteria project will be funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.

In other construction projects, a bid is expected to be awarded next month for a sewer improvement project at Hathaway High School.

“They have a very small, outdated sewer system which will not allow them to expand or add any more sinks or toilets because they are at the capacity they are rated for,” Hall said.

The project, which is expected to be underway this summer, will also be funded by ESSER funds.