Huxford Elementary School has been bursting at the seams — but a gift from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians will help alleviate the crowding.

Escambia County School Board members approved the construction of two new classrooms at their meeting Thursday.

“The cost of the project is $291,800,” Mike Goolsby, board president, said. “The entire project is being funded by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.”

Principal Donna Silcox said the school is grateful for the funds, which will build two new kindergarten classrooms.

“It has been a blessing,” she said. “We haven’t had enough room at all.”

Poarch funds have also allowed the school to renovate its auditorium — in which space has been used for offices and even overflow for classrooms in the past.

Other changes at the school include a new mobile building and conference room for teachers, she said. “We’ve been excited,” she said.

Also at Thursday’s school board meeting, the board approved an emergncy bid to rebuild the Pollard-McCall Junior High School library and two classrooms.

The library and two classrooms were destroyed this summer when fire engulfed the structure. No students were in the building at the time of the fire, but the building was a total loss.

Superintendent Billy Hines said the construction project was awarded to Bayshore Contracting at a cost of $389,000.

“We expect the building to be complete and ready to occupy by next school year,” Hines said. “The contractors say 150 working days, but that doesn’t account for delays and weather issues during the construction phase.”

During Thursday’s meeting, the board members also heard a report concerning the sale of surplus transportation items.

Julie Madden, chief financial officer spoke on behalf of Randall Little, who serves as transportation director for the county system.

“Saraland Schools purchased five of the six buses being sold,” Madden told the board. “We made in excess of $27,000 on this sale. We had spare buses and some trucks for sale. We sold everything up for sale.”