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'Perrywood school is finally here' For nearly four years, Principal Deborah Stokes has been waiting for a place for her students to call home, and on Monday the doors to Perrywood Elementary School finally opened. "It's a good feeling," Stokes said. "We have been waiting about four years to come over." "I believe it is in a more convenient location for the Upper Marlboro, Largo and Kettering families," she said. "It is uplifting and bright. I am excited and enthusiastic about the new school." The student body for Perrywood Elementary School was formed before it had a campus. Pupils were culled from five elementary schools in 1997 to ease overcrowding at those schools, Stokes said. Pupils from Phyllis E. Williams, Patuxent, Kingsford, Woodmore and Kettering elementary schools were relocated to the Belair Annex in Bowie. The opening of Perrywood Elementary School, originally slated for September, was delayed four months after the contractors were granted an extension. The extension was granted because wet weather followed by extreme dry weather halted the school construction. "I am delighted we prevailed and Perrywood school is finally here," said Ronald Russell, County Council Chairman Ronald Russell (D Dist. 6) of Mitchellville. "This is the first of four new schools that I fought to bring to the 6th District to relieve overcrowding." In August, Russell toured the school with contractors and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) officials because he wanted an explanation of why the school was not ready for occupancy Sept. 23. When he toured the school, he said that it was not an endeavor to point fingers but to express his "disappointment for the delay." Prince George's County Schools Superintendent Iris Metts, school board member Robert Callahan (Dist. 5) of Bowie and regional executive director Marcus Newsome attended the school opening. "It (Perrywood) represents a directive of Prince George's County Schools and reflective of our communities . to make education a priority," Newsome said. It seemed like the first day of school for the students and for teachers like Lavata Wood, who guided her first grade class through the school showing them where the new media, gym, multipurpose room and office are located. Her class was anxious to explore the halls of the new school. "So far we have talked about responsibility and how to put our things away," Wood said. "We will also discuss the differences between the old school and the new school." Perrywood Elementary, located on Watkins Park Drive, is the first elementary school in the county to share its facilities with an adjoining community center. The school is connected to the Kettering/Largo Community Center, 431 Watkins Park Drive in Upper Marlboro. Parents like Paulette Bizelle are concerned about the community center school relationship. "Those people entering the recreation center have access to the school portions, and I am extremely uncomfortable with that," she said. However, there is only one main entrance between the community center and school. Building supervisor Robin Hunt, who is charge of building maintenance, demonstrated how inaccessible the elementary school is from the community center. Safeguards have been incorporated in the design of the school to minimize traffic flow and prevent the public from having instant access to the elementary school.