September 2025 | Vol. 5 Iss. 9
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Doors open at new Bountiful Elementary as school year begins By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
The original building was 75 years old. It was demolished to make way for the new school.
B
OUNTIFUL—It’s been 75 years since Bountiful Elementary opened its doors. Now a brand new Bountiful Elementary took its place and opened its doors welcoming students back to school Aug. 18. Davis School District officials, teachers, students, and parents gathered in the new building on Aug. 14 for a ribbon cutting and open house. The new building area is 90,368 square feet and the size of the site is nine acres. Student capacity is 900. Themes throughout are about beautiful Utah with wildlife, mountains and parks. “I’m very proud to say that my mother, my aunts and uncles attended Bountiful Elementary when it was established in 1950,” said Principal Casey Pickett. “It is truly an honor bringing this here together. The reason we’re here together is because a school is really the center and heart of a community.” Marian Wright Edelman said “Education is improving the lives of others and leaving your community and world better than you found it,” said Pickett. “Countless individuals from our school district worked many hours, which I am so, so grateful for. They care deeply for our students and see the bigger picture.” “So this doesn’t happen without a lot of effort and a lot
of good people coming together,” said Superintendent Dr. Dan Linford. “I want to talk a little bit about why we do this. When we started building this, why did we make a ceremony out of digging some dirt to get this thing started? And why do we cut a ribbon? Why is this edifice, this building of any importance, that it deserves a celebration?” Well because like Principal Pickett said, schools are maybe the last place on earth where communities really come together, said Linford. “It’s where we say ‘that’s my school’ and we have ownership. ‘That’s the school where I went.’” This place represents a place where dreams are going to be made, he said. “Then we’re going to align in every way we can to make those dreams come true.” “My father-in-law was actually in the first class at Bountiful Elementary School,” said School Board Member Alisa Mercer. “Now we get to be in this new building and my son attended Bountiful Elementary so it is dear to my heart.” This building is more than brick and mortar, she said. “It is beautiful and I’m excited for the learning that’s going to take place here.” “I’m going to be starting fifth grade this year,” said Eleanor Stephens. “I’ve been attending Bountiful Elementary since I was in kindergarten and I loved every second of it.” It’s not the building that makes the school, she said. “It’s the people, the traditions and the activities that create the memories.”
The teachers are the heart and soul of the school, Stephens said. “I can’t wait to see what fun memories are made with our fifth and sixth grade teachers. Although the building where we made memories is gone, people and traditions and activities will remain and new and exciting memories will continue to be made.” l
Fifth grader Eleanor Stephens (center) cuts the ribbon to open the new Bountiful Elementary. (Photo by Becky Ginos)
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