Under the direction of visual arts teacher Heather Schlesinger, students designed and painted a new mural on the designated parking space during the week of Sept. 14. Photo courtesy of Folsom Cordova Unified School District

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Students in the Visual Arts Department at Mills Middle School have restored a campus tradition by repainting the school’s Employee of the Month parking space after the original artwork was lost during a parking lot resurfacing project.

Under the direction of visual arts teacher Heather Schlesinger, students designed and painted a new mural on the designated parking space during the week of Sept. 14.

Mills Middle School began the Employee of the Month parking tradition during the 2024-25 school year. Photo courtesy of Folsom Cordova Unified School District

Mills Middle School began the Employee of the Month parking tradition during the 2024-25 school year. Each month, the employee selected for the recognition is given use of the specially decorated parking space.

The original artwork was created by Schlesinger’s visual arts students when the tradition began. The mural was later covered when the school parking lot was resurfaced.

Students decided to recreate the project this school year, developing a new design and repainting the space.

The restored parking space is now back in use as part of Mills Middle School’s Employee of the Month program. Photo courtesy of Folsom Cordova Unified School District

The project combines the school’s visual arts program with its monthly employee recognition efforts, giving students an opportunity to contribute artwork to the campus while recognizing staff members.

The restored parking space is now back in use as part of Mills Middle School’s Employee of the Month program.