Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Coleman Place Elementary School

The school's new principal, Mr. Callie Richardson, along with Superintendent Dr. Stephen Jones, Norfolk City Council representatives, School Board members, students, parents and the community will participate in this monumental event. NPS is excited about the opportunities and resources the new school will provide to students and the community. The estimated date of completion is the fall of 2007.

Coleman Place received notoriety on Labor Day weekend of September 1999 when former President Bill Clinton visited the school to bring national attention to the construction plight of America's oldest schools. At the time, President Clinton was trying to pass a bill to acquire more money to aid in the construction and repair of these schools.

Facts
• Estimated cost of new school is approximately $20 million
• Estimated school completion date: Fall 2007
• New school will hold approximately 800 students in grades PreK-5
• State of the Art technology and instructional climate
• School will have a Parent Meeting Center for the community/parents
• Expanded PreK program
• School to be used by the community when school not in session

History
• Opened January 25, 1925 in Norfolk County (80 yrs. old)
• Began as a two story building with 130 students, eight classrooms, three teachers and a teaching principal (no lunchroom)
• Educated 1,400 students in quansit huts on the field behind the old building during WWII
• Added 17 classrooms and an auditorium/lunchroom by April 1945
• Constructed a library in 1946
• Added two buildings and an annex in the 1950's
• In 1955, the City Norfolk annexed Norfolk County and Coleman Place Elementary School to become a part of Norfolk Public Schools
• Entire school air conditioned by 1993
• During cross town busing, Coleman Place ES shared students with Tucker Elementary School.