MELBA, Idaho (KBOI) — Parents had been concerned about their children attending a nearly 50-year-old elementary school in Melba.
"It wasn't really secure," said Chris Hinderliter, a basketball coach and pastor of a local church. "Things were breaking left and right."
The school was also a collection of buildings with no main office, allowing anyone to step onto the campus without checking in.
But now, the town finally has a new school after a three year-long process.
"It's very contagious, I think everyone's been walking on air for awhile," said Sherry Adams, the principal of the school.
And although classes have been in session for a week now, it's still the talk of the town.
Melba High School students Kobe Phillips and Scott Martinez say they're impressed with the new additions, including hallways, new chairs and new technology in the classrooms.
"It's all new," Phillips said.
It all started when parents started becoming worried about the current elementary school. The school was a collection of buildings, allowing anyone to walk on campus without checking-in first. Some students had to walk outside to another class room to use the bathroom, and the entire school had to make the trek to the middle and high school for lunch.
A community board first unanimously voted to build a new school instead of working to repair the old one. Then in March 2015, a $9.5 million bond passed to build the new structure.
Nearly the entire community got involved.
"I, myself, put some electrical work in it," Phillips said.
The new school is also providing new opportunities for students. Before, those involved with sports had to share one gym for the town. Because of this, some practices went so late that they couldn't attend.
"More kids will be able to be involved with more after school clubs, cheerleading, things like that," Hinderliter said.
Of course, the design of the structure still remains true to Melba's community.
"Classrooms have a shared storage area," Adams said. "So teachers can easily go from classroom to classroom, so we still have that family feel that's very important to Melba."
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