New middle school welcomes students
Youngsters' first day filled with learning campus, adjusting
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Chris Barbee Opening The Doors Monday marked the first day of classes at the new El Campo Middle School campus on FM 2765 with 735 students enrolled for classes. Of that, it is estimated 680 were in attendance as the first bell rang. Friday was the last day for classes at the MLK Boulvevard campus, sections of which are in excess of 50 years old. The new campus is designed not only with security in mind, but also to house all students under a single roof.

Monday's first day of classes at the new El Campo Middle School went smoothly, and as their studies wrapped up for the day, students had mixed feelings about their new home.

A smiling Principal Rodney Montello said the day went "wonderful, just wonderful."

"Most of the time when students were lost, they were about 10 feet from the door they needed," he said. "The kids handled it very well, and I'm very proud of them."

He said students made it to class without delays and tardiness was not a problem, and the system for unloading students from cars and buses worked very well. Montello even got on the public address system to congratulate students on making it to class successfully first thing in the morning.

New Beginnings After waving goodbye Friday at the end of their last day of classes at the old El Campo Middle School on MLK Boulevard (below), ECMS students managed to make it to their first period classes at the new facility Monday morning (above). Principal Rodney Montello said things went exceptionally smoothly Monday morning, with no more tardiness than on any other day.

"I want to compliment you and tell you did a very nice job coming in this morning," he said.

Eighth graders Frankie Partida and Dylan Merta were not happy to find themselves contained within one building all day.

"I don't like it," Partida said. "You can't get sunlight."

"You can't go outside," Merta said.

But Ryan Hermann said he's quite happy with the $17.6-million facility.

"I like it cause it's new, and the girls don't go to lunch first," he said, noting boys and girls ate separately at the old middle school.

L-N Photo by Chris Barbee (above) Contributed Photo (below)

Adrian Piloto said he adamantly "agreed with that last one."

LaCrystal Baylor was quite outspoken in her review of the school.

"I like the school, but it's closed," the eight-grader said. "We used to be able to go out and get air."

She said the 52 security cameras sprinkled throughout the building "get on my nerves."

Seventh grader Geena Grays had similar thoughts after one day at the school.

"I like the new school, it's pretty, but it's closed in," she said. "It's, like, claustrophobic and there's too many cameras."

But she said there are benefits to the school's design she enjoys.

"You get to mix with seventh and eighth graders in the hallways, and get to mix with friends, and cousins," she said. "And the cafeteria is so open."

A number of students chimed in with praise for the high-tech overhead systems installed in each classroom, devices known as "Elmos."

"You can put anything on it, and it goes up on the screen - even your face!" Baylor said.

"I really like the Elmos," said eighth grader Veronica Prado, who also thought the girls locker room and lunch line were "cool."

Maria Aldavera was a bit unnerved by the campus surveillance.

"What I don't like is all the cameras and stuff," she said. "It feels like I'm in prison."

But Aldavera said for the most part, she's a fan of the new building.

"I like that we get to stay inside," the eighth grader said. "You don't have to go outside and worry about your hair getting messed up."