With many eyes awaiting the construction of the city’s new middle school, school officials said all of the Laurel School District school buildings are being improved.

The improvements are a part of the School District’s Strategic Facilities Plan that is being conducted in three main phases.

The school district is fastly completing Phase 1 of the Strategic Facilities Plan and looking forward to Phase 2 of the plan.

While Phase 1 involved various improvements at the existing schools in the district, Phase 2 will include the construction of a new middle school.

Laurel School District Superintendent Dr. Glenn McGee said water conservation work, energy conservation work and facility upgrades have been completed at all the district’s schools.

Projects in the process include the installation of drop ceilings at Oak Park Elementary, Nora Davis Magnet, Jones Middle School, Maddox and Laurel High School.

Water wells for irrigation have been complete at Laurel High School’s stadium and practice field while work is being done for a water well for irrigation at the new middle school soccer/football practice field.

“All of the schools will be getting upgrades,” Magee said. “Over the course of the next few months, there will be a lot of work going on around our schools.”

Magee said all the schools are receiving central air and heat. Also schools with window units will be saying good-bye to them and receiving new windows as a part of the bond issue.

“Most of our buildings are older buildings, so they require some work to be done to them,” Magee said. “The aesthetics of Oak Park will totally change.”

At Oak Park Elementary, the Laurel School District has already completed a great deal of improvements. Included in the bond issue there are improvements to the lighting, electrical, and HVAC systems.

“We are just excited about the renovations,” said the Rev. Jaymar Jackson, principal of Oak Park Elementary School. “It’s really making a difference. The children are so excited. ... The new doors are great and we are looking forward to the new windows.”

Ialiyah Fenderson, 6, a kindergarten student at Oak Park Elementary School, agreed.

“I like the colors on the air conditioners,” the kindergarten said emphasizing the Laurel School District’s decision to provide colored air condition ducts throughout the schools.

Mason Elementary has also recently received much work, but there are still some big plans to develop in the coming months. Besides the same electrical, lighting and HVAC improvements being made district wide, there will also be a new multi-purpose building at Mason that will help rid the need for portable buildings. The new building will include a stage and space for physical education and school activities.