New classrooms, new excitement at Colman-Egan

Siblings Lane, Emerson, and Stetson Damm didnt say much as they checked out Colman-Egans brand-new school addition last week. But they did all agree on one word: cool.
The three, along with their mom Nicole, grandmother Delain, and sister Zara, of Trent, were among the families wandering hallways, dropping off supplies, and meeting teachers ahead of the first day of school. Lane practiced opening the lock on his new locker, Emerson was already eager to get back with friends, and Stetson just wanted to get into his classroom.
They loved the walk-through, Nicole said, adding she feels good knowing at least one of the boys will have smaller class sizes this year after the addition allowed some classes to split.
The excitement has been building for months. A week earlier, hundreds of community members packed the campus for a grand opening celebration, complete with food trucks, hands-on activities, and tours. Students even helped assemble some of the lockers themselves.
The new space comes as Colman-Egan continues to grow. Enrollment is around 332 students, with several grades closed to open enrollment. The project has been years in the making with voters overwhelmingly approving what had been initially estimated to be a $6.3 million expansion.
The addition includes a new preschool room, six classrooms, a flex learning space, and a weight room, and a remodeled Career and Technical Education space.
This is going to serve our community well for years to come, said Superintendent Scott Hemmer.