New classroom buildings now open at Tommy Smith Elementary and Merritt Brown Middle School

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - On Valentine’s Day, students at Tommy Smith Elementary and Merritt Brown Middle School were feeling the love from Bay District Schools.

Over the last few weeks, students and teachers at both schools have been moving to brand-new classrooms, in brand-new buildings.

“Being in an actual building with an actual bathroom, that could probably help a lot, said Merritt Brown Middle School student Reagan Jones. “Before we didn’t have much air conditioning. It wasn’t really the best area for learning.”

Funding for these new buildings comes from the half-cent sales tax, and officials with Bay District Schools say they are thankful that they get to use that to invest in education.

“Thank you to our community for support, because without that we wouldn’t be standing here right now,” said Debra Spradley, the Principal of Tommy Smith Elementary. “It takes all of us working together.”

The buildings at both schools have new classrooms and new learning equipment.

Officials from the school district say that the new buildings are an investment in the future of Bay County as it continues to grow.