CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- On Thursday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools hosted a community engagement session for a new building for an elementary school in East Charlotte.  

Briarwood Academy will have a new building in a few years with the help of a $1 billion  bond voters approved in 2017. Bobbi Hague who is part of the Optimist Club, a group that tutors children at Briarwood, attended the event.

She provided input of her vision for the future building. "I think they need to be sure it's well lit and they have enough space for play area,” Hague said.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board District 4 member Carol Sawyer who was also at the community session said replacing the 60-year-old building is a must.

"It doesn't have the most efficient heating and air conditioning systems. It doesn't have adequate electrical systems for today's technology and it's certainly not energy efficient,” Sawyer said. In addition, the main building can’t accommodate the 760 students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade who attend the school.

Briarwood Academy Principal Beth Marshall said the majority of them learn in mobile classrooms located outside of the main building.

"It doesn't matter what the weather is, they have to come out to go to art, to PE, to music, to Media Center so you are always in the elements,” Marshall said.

However, that will change in 2021 when the replacement school with 45 classrooms is built.

"Putting us all in one central location would make everything significantly easier,” said Marshall.

The community is part of the design and layout process.

"It's important for the parents and community members to be part of this design process because we want the school to be part of this community,” Sawyer said.

Parents like Antonio Hernandez Tellez are grateful to be given a voice during the planning.

"I think it's great. At the end of the day, we need to be informed where our children will be and how safe they will be,” Hernandez Tellez said.

The architects will gather the input received on Thursday and come up with a design plan in a few months.

Construction is expected to start next year.