Warrior Elementary School is getting a “mini-makeover” for one of its teacher workrooms.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has organized several sponsors to help make the room a more positive working environment.

“Our goal is to make schools cleaner and to get rid of clutter,” said Vi Parramore, president of a local AFT chapter.

In addition to helping with organization, AFT brought together several sponsors to donate time or materials to improve the workroom. Sherwin Williams in Warrior donated paint, Buck’s Pizza provided food for workers and Warrior Fire Department volunteers and city workers helped with manual labor.

In the past, AFT organized makeovers for science labs, classrooms, and other larger projects. Parramore said the poor economy forced them to ask for smaller donations from businesses, making Warrior Elementary’s workroom their first “mini-makeover.”

“We didn’t want to do nothing. We wanted to help, even if it wasn’t as big as we usually do,” she said.

Instead of asking businesses to buy expensive new equipment for the workroom, AFT is trying to improve resources the school already has.

Ann Underwood, a former PTA president and professional designer, is working to redesign the workroom to better utilize the space and generally make it look better. She is working with Jennie Lowery, a design student from the Southern Institute School of Interior Design at Virginia College.

“My partner, Denise Glen, and I studied color, and how environment affects students and teachers,” said Underwood. She also said she learned much about what teachers needed in their workspaces during her time on the PTA.

“When it starts looking better, the teachers will be happy, and that will, in turn, make the students happier,” said Warrior Elementary School principal Mike Frugoli.

AFT is also going to have cabinets installed in the workroom because of a need for storage space.

“It’s basically been a non-functional area until now,” said Jo Ann Niblett, a second grade teacher at Warrior Elementary School. “We can make copies and laminate, but this is going to organize it and give us some room to work.”

Frugoli said AFT approached him about helping the school because Warrior Elementary wasn’t scheduled for any new additions in the near future.

AFT is also purchasing new solar blinds for the school’s lunchroom. Frugoli said the afternoon sun can make the cafeteria uncomfortably hot, and that the blinds could lower the temperature by as much as 15 degrees.

Frugoli said the county purchased a new skid-proof floor and a new serving line for the cafeteria.