The new Sunnyside Elementary School hosted its first Smyrna School Board meeting on July 30, and later this month, it will open its doors to students for the first time.

The new 600-student school, located near the intersection of Rabbit Chase and Sunnyside roads, will welcome students for the first day of school on August 25.

Sunnyside Principal Kathy Castro said 234 students are currently enrolled for the first year.

“It’s an exciting time and I’m glad to be a part of it,” she said.

At the board meeting, Castro said all the furniture had been delivered except for the library furniture. The custodians have been hard at work getting the school ready, she said.

Dedication ceremonies for Sunnyside Elementary have been planned for 6:30 p.m. on September 10.

Superintendent Debbie Wicks said the ceremonies will recognize all the people involved in making the new school a reality.

“There were a lot of people who helped us get to this point,” she said.

During the board meeting, school board member Ron Eby expressed concerns about the status of Rabbit Chase Road.

The southern end of the road near Brenford Road has been widened and repaved, but the northern end of the road near the school has not yet received the same treatment.

Wicks said that developer Lee Rammuno will repave the rest of Rabbit Chase Road once he builds 100 homes in the adjacent housing developments, Centerville and Graceland.

“It’s supposed to look like the other end eventually,” she said.

District’s student count on the rise

At the July 30 school board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Buddy Lloyd said the Smyrna School District’s total student enrollment was currently 120 students ahead of last year’s September 30 count.

Last year, the district had a total of 4,460 students on September 30.

As of July 30 of this year, the district was up to 4,580 students with two more months to go before the September 30 count.