New Veterans Elementary School in Palmetto prepares to open its doors

PALMETTO, Fla. (WWSB) - Teachers and staff are setting up classrooms at the new Veterans Elementary School in Palmetto ahead of the first day of school on Aug. 10.The school will serve students in kindergarten through fifth grade. About 300 students are expected to enroll this year, though the campus is built to hold up to 969.Principal Laura Campbell said the school has been under construction for more than a year and a half. Campbell, who grew up in Manatee County and has spent 24 years in education, is now leading the new campus.“We are going to be welcoming about 300 students here in the next 10 days,” Campbell said. “We are super excited about it.”Campbell said the school will follow a “Leader in Me” model focused on building lifelong learners.“We are really focused on brilliant leadership and community and we are going to be a Leader in Me school, which encourages kids to have seven habits that make them lifelong learners,” she said.Third grade teacher Lauren McDaniel is entering