The $80 million building projects will see two new elementaries — Central and Compass — and a new Fairfield Freshman school in the 9,000-student Butler County district.
CLOSER LOOK: Fairfield and Middletown schools’ historic building projects
“The buildings are on time and on budget,” Tom Weiser, director of business operations. “At this time we are in very good shape financially with all three projects.”
Weiser said the three new schools are scheduled to be finish by July 31 and staff will begin to move on Aug. 1.
Classes at Fairfield Schools will be starting later than normal for the 2017-2018 school year due to the construction. Usually classes start in mid-to-late August, but for the coming school year they will begin Sept. 5.
“Roofing at both the elementaries is complete and we’re beginning to pour sidewalks outside the buildings,” Weiser told the school board.
MORE: New schools mean new attendance zones for Fairfield students
The board agreed to hold formal opening ceremonies for the three schools shortly after classes begin.
Three separate ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be conducted at each of the schools starting at the Freshman School at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 and then at the other two schools at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Public tours will also be part of the official opening ceremonies.
Fairfield Schools Superintendent Billy Smith said there is a growing “buzz” in the community as the new schools rise at their construction sites.
“It’s huge and it’s a very historic time for our school district to have the opportunity to open three new buildings for our students, staff and community. We are so excited. People are going to start seeing a lot of changes by the end of this school year,” said Smith.
“We went on a tour of the three buildings last week and they are amazing,” he said.
Demolition of the current Central Elementary — which is the second oldest school in Butler County — and the adjacent Freshman School will start in the first week of July, according to Weiser.
A final public tour of Central Elementary, which opened in 1929, is being offered on May 6 from 9 a.m. to noon, school officials announced.
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