Anyone who was ever a student, teacher, or had a child attend Church Street Elementary School won’t be able to help but smile when they see youngsters again scurrying through the halls of the facility, now the city’s cultural arts center and home to the Andalusia Ballet.

Such was the case when students of the ballet attended their first classes there Monday afternoon. Simultaneous classes were being taught in three studios, and the hallways were once again filled with children. Work on the project, which is a joint effort of the Andalusia Ballet and the City of Andalusia, is not completed, but the work passed inspection for safety and all have agreed to work together as the work is completed.

Once done, it will be as fine a showplace for our community as is the former East Three Notch School, now city hall.

We commend the leaders of both the ballet and the city for working together, and for the Ballet’s tireless fundraising to make the project a go. The end result is a beautiful facility that will enhance the Ballet’s ability to draw people to our community.