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Putting the school together took the effort of many faculty who were part of a design team to brainstorm ideas for the new school, as well as Hayslett Construction Co. and several administrators and board of education members who have rotated throughout the years.

�����Ƶ�How could you not love it?�����Ƶ� Leggett said about the school property. �����Ƶ�It�����Ƶ�s almost 100 acres, and it�����Ƶ�s amazing. You could look out back anytime and there�����Ƶ�s always at least a dozen deer outside.�����Ƶ�

The school sits at the end of a long driveway connecting with Newmans Branch Road, placing it out of view from traffic. Leggett recalled how the former elementary school building was in the middle of the town, but now students can learn in a quieter environment with plenty of space.

�����Ƶ�The kids love it,�����Ƶ� she said, although she said the staff wasn�����Ƶ�t sure what to expect. �����Ƶ�Some people have been in that building for 40-some years, and then they come here and it�����Ƶ�s just the unknown, but they love it all.�����Ƶ�

Teacher Susan DeFazio has been at the school for 48 years in special education. She said there�����Ƶ�s nothing she�����Ƶ�ll actually miss about the old building, as all of the students, teachers and their instruction are traveling with her.

�����Ƶ�The teachers will still be as effective in the new building,�����Ƶ� she said. �����Ƶ�This is beautiful. It is. And the kids deserve it. The teachers deserve it. Our building was old, and the windows weren�����Ƶ�t the best in the world, and so it�����Ƶ�s nice.�����Ƶ�

At first glance, DeFazio said she liked how the new building has more open space. She described the building as �����Ƶ�bright,�����Ƶ� �����Ƶ�airy�����Ƶ� and �����Ƶ�clean,�����Ƶ� pointing out the number of windows the building had compared to the former one.

The old elementary school opened in 1950. It had some issues with flooding and roof leaks and was less energy efficient, according to Deputy Superintendent Justin Boggs.

Jeanne Lunsford, a fifth grade teacher who sat in on some design committee meetings, noted that the old building also had some issues with its electrical wiring to the point that it was �����Ƶ�maxed out,�����Ƶ� creating unreliable internet service.

Megan Burdick, a kindergarten teacher who was on the design committee, said the group also requested the school�����Ƶ�s natural, lodge-like look to blend with the landscape and the surrounding rural community. She said they also requested windows in the classrooms for natural lighting and flexible classroom furniture and spaces for different groups�����Ƶ� needs.

She said the faculty are excited about having more than one restroom to share.

�����Ƶ�It�����Ƶ�s exciting to have something brand new,�����Ƶ� Burdick said. �����Ƶ�We actually videoed (the kids) as they were coming into the room, my assistant did, and they were just ecstatic. They loved it. They can see the playground from the window. They love the carpet. They couldn�����Ƶ�t believe how big our bathroom was.�����Ƶ�

Fifth grader Evelyn Perry, 10, said while she liked the cleanliness and design of the new school, she�����Ƶ�ll miss the fifth graders having the top floor to themselves. Still, she said there�����Ƶ�s more lockers, nicer chairs, desks, tables and other furniture and better bathrooms at this school, and she likes the green and blue paint in the classrooms and halls and the school�����Ƶ�s �����Ƶ�modern�����Ƶ� look.

�����Ƶ�I�����Ƶ�ll definitely miss it,�����Ƶ� Evelyn said of the old Milton Elementary School, �����Ƶ�but I�����Ƶ�m also excited to start a new chapter.�����Ƶ�

Lunsford said, although the transition is bittersweet for her, having taught at the former building for 21 years, �����Ƶ�it�����Ƶ�s nice to start something fresh again.�����Ƶ�

�����Ƶ�(The students) are so excited, we can�����Ƶ�t keep them calmed down. But once they get in the building in January and we give them a few days to get settled in, they�����Ƶ�ll realize it�����Ƶ�s school again,�����Ƶ� Lunsford said. �����Ƶ�I just hope that everyone can appreciate all the hard work that went into this from every level.�����Ƶ�

Cabell County Board of Education President Josh Pauley said he�����Ƶ�s been around for most of the new school�����Ƶ�s construction process, and his name is on a plaque at the front door along with other current former board members and administrators.

Pauley said he thinks the building is one of the �����Ƶ�most beautiful schools that we have.�����Ƶ�

�����Ƶ�The primary focus is being able to educate our students, and so I hope that�����Ƶ�s the main focus for everybody as they come in and enjoy being in a new facility, but still maintain the focus of learning, and hopefully the updates here will facilitate that process better than what the current facility does,�����Ƶ� Pauley said.

When asked if he thought the new school bond projects �����Ƶ� funded by the $87.5 million bond approved by voters in August 2020 �����Ƶ� were worth it upon seeing the new school, Pauley said, �����Ƶ�I think it�����Ƶ�s justified on multiple levels.�����Ƶ�

�����Ƶ�When you look at the schools that we�����Ƶ�ve replaced and the reasons that those schools were chosen to be replaced, I think it was obvious that they needed new schools, needed new facilities,�����Ƶ� Pauley said. �����Ƶ�We have to invest in our future, in our kids, in education. Just look at how long the current Milton elementary has served this county. This building, it did cost a lot of money, but it�����Ƶ�s going to serve our students for many, many, many years to come, decades to come, and so it�����Ƶ�s well worth the investment.�����Ƶ�

The students will finish out their year earlier than the rest of the county, with their last day on Wednesday, Dec. 18, to make time for teachers to settle in. The first day at their new school at 1224 Newmans Branch Road will be after holiday break on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.