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Sandra Yi Reporting...Growing pains in a small Utah County town means the end of a century of status-quo: This fall, Mapleton, will get its second school in 104 years.
J. Lynn Jones/Principal, Mapleton Elementary School: "WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH IN MAPLETON OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS."
In the small, quiet town of Mapleton, acres of undeveloped land are slowing giving way to urban sprawl. The state estimates that this rural community's population of about 65 hundred people will more than triple by the year 2020.
J. Lynn Jones/Principal, Mapleton Elementary School: "THESE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BEDROOM COMMUNITIES ARE GOING BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE."
And in the heart of it is the city's only elementary school. Mapleton Elementary has a story of its own and memories going back 104 years.
Mike Larsen/Teacher: "IT'S A LEGACY. MR. JONES AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE BUILT A LEGACY HERE IN MAPLETON."
Mike Larsen graduated from Mapleton in 1982. Today, he walks the halls a teacher, often working side by side with his former 5th grade teacher who has been at Mapleton for more than 20 years.
Darlene Christensen/Teacher: "MIKE HAS HAD, HOW MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS GO THROUGH MAPLETON SCHOOL? '12'. 12 SIBLINGS. AND I TAUGHT, 4?"
This is where every child in Mapleton has gone to school. People say in this community everyone here is like family.
Darlene Christensen/Teacher: "AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE SCHOOL SO GREAT IS THERE'S NO PLACE ELSE TO TAKE OUR COMPETITION BECAUSE SCHOOL IS THE ONLY THING HERE. YOU CAN GO TO THE BANK OR SERVICE STATION, BUT THAT'S IT. SCHOOL IS THE NUMBER 1 PLACE TO BE HERE."
But growing pains has forced the city to build another elementary school for Mapleton and nearby Springville. Hobble Creek Elementary will open this fall. It's cause for the town to celebrate Mapleton's past and a time for new beginnings.
Mike Larsen/Teacher: "IT'S SAD IN THAT THIS IS THE IS THE END OF THIS ERA, BUT IT'S ALSO EXCITING IN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 2 WONDERFUL SCHOOLS."
A special open house is being held this evening. The school's 5th grade class graduated this morning -- the last of Mapleton's students to be together in the same school.
