Caneview Elementary School third-grader Devon Segura is excited about his new school.

“I like the new rooms,” he said as he waited for the school day to begin.

After months of anticipation, Caneview opened its doors to students for the first time today. Located on Frontage Road near the intersection of U.S. 90 and Darnall Road, this new school is, in the words of Iberia Parish Schools Superintendent Dale Henderson, “ready to roll.”

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“The teachers and staff worked extremely hard to have the classrooms, and the school in general, ready for today,” Henderson said. “Everything is ready for a full day of instruction.”

The School Board approved the construction of Caneview in 2007. Construction of the approximately 70,000-square foot school, designed by architect Alton Darby of New Iberia, built by Bunkie-based general contractor M.D. Descant and funded as part of the 2004 $62 million bond proposition, was set back when Hurricane Gustav hit the Teche Area Sept. 1.

Teachers and school staff began moving into Caneview on Nov. 21, following the School Board’s vote to take possession of the building at its Nov. 20 meeting. Henderson said that an estimated 550 students from Grand Marais and Peebles Elementary Schools were expected to begin school at Caneview today.

Peebles students and teachers have been using part of the Belle Place Middle School campus since Hurricane Rita destroyed their school three years ago.

“Two schools became one,” Henderson said.

Caneview Principal Dorothy Small was “excited” and “elated” about the school’s opening day.

“We’re here to teach the children,” Small said as the school buses arrived. “We’ve been awaiting this time. Along with the excitement of today, this will be a productive and successful school year.”

Small describes the school building which she will be administering as “beautiful” and “state of the art.”

“It’s a great privilege and honor to be able to walk into such a great building — one which is so conducive to teaching and learning,” Small said.

Pre-K Teacher Janice Cloutier, formerly a teacher at Grand Marais,  is pleased with the new school.

“I love it,” Cloutier said. “It’s beautiful.”

Pre-K student Emily Mendoza, 4, also likes her new school.

“I didn’t think it would be like this,” she said. “I thought it would have green walls.”