PELHAM – Pelham’s two elementary schools will undergo improvements while students are out of school for summer break, according to Pelham City Schools Superintendent Scott Coefield.

Coefield said projects at both schools are projected to cost about $200,000 each.

At Pelham Ridge, the school’s parking lot will be expanded, improvements will be made to the student pickup lanes and the playground area will be finished. Coefield said he realized at the Pelham Ridge open house that parking at the school would need to be expanded.

He said he hopes to add 30-35 parking spaces to a stretch of land that sits to the right when turning into the school.

“The playground will be sprigged and we’re also adding a walking track,” Coefield said. “We had to get moved into the building in time for the students to start back after fall break and we didn’t get a chance to finish the playground area.”

At Pelham Oaks, all of the carpet in the building will be removed and replaced with MCT, which is a type of tile that is highly durable and long lasting. The entrance of the school will improved to be more secure and the school system is in the process of designing an addition to the school.

The addition will include a new gym and the old gym will be turned into classrooms. However, the gym addition won’t be completed in time for the start of the 2017-18 school year. Coefield said it will take about a year to be constructed.