Public invited to tour Forest Hills' new and renovated schools

Forest Hills Local Schools officials say a nearly complete $100 million building project five years in the making will give students a springboard to a successful future.

The school district is inviting the public to tour the new Wilson Elementary School in Anderson Township and Forest Hills’ eight other schools — all of which have been extensively renovated – this month.

The project was funded by a bond issue approved by voters in 2014. Forest Hills is asking residents to approve an unrelated 4.7-mill operating levy in November.

“All of our schools were carefully designed to provide safe and secure spaces that encourage students to excel," school district Superintendent Scot Prebles said.

“State-of-the-art technology runs throughout all buildings to enhance student learning in 21st century workspaces.”

Forest Hills’ building project was constructed in phases.

“Classrooms are equipped with flexible furniture and movable walls that allow spaces to be redesigned for innovative lessons and large group instructional activities,” Prebles said.

“Learning commons spaces, traditionally known as libraries, have modern breakout rooms where students can work in groups or independently.”

Superintendent: Renovated schools look brand new

 Prebles said the school district’s renovated schools look and feel like they’re brand new.

“Nearly every space in renovated buildings was touched - from cafeterias to gyms - to ensure high functionality for students and staff,” Prebles said.

Prebles said the schools have new handicap-accessible elevators as well as carefully considered parking lot configurations to relieve traffic congestion for students, parents and staff.

“Our buildings are safer than ever before with new vestibules, security doors and cameras,” Prebles said.

“All of our buildings are air conditioned, which has made a significant difference in students and staff staying focused and comfortable throughout the day.”

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Prebles said Forest Hills was able to take advantage of competitive construction costs during the building project.

“Based on Turner Construction Company’s Building Cost Index (which measures costs in the non-residential building construction market in the United States), the district’s annual construction costs have been below the national average each year since 2014,” Prebles said.

“Based on the RSMeans historical cost index (used by the construction industry nationwide to estimate project costs), the community’s original $103 million investment now has an estimated value of more than $120 million, which means that not only are our students benefiting greatly from the new facilities, the construction has proven to be a great investment.”

Tour dates set

The public will have three chances to tour Forest Hills’ schools this month.

Here are the dates the following schools will be open for tours:

• Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Anderson High School at 7560 Forest Road, Turpin High School at 2650 Bartels Road, Nagel Middle School at 1500 Nagel Road, Ayer Elementary School at 8471 Forest Road, Maddux Elementary School at 943 Rosetree Lane, Mercer Elementary School at 2600 Bartels Road, Sherwood Elementary School at 7080 Grantham Way, Summit Elementary School at 8400 Northport Drive and Wilson Elementary School at 2465 Little Dry Run Road.
• Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Anderson High, Nagel Middle, Ayer Elementary, Maddux Elementary and Summit Elementary.
• Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Turpin High, Nagel Middle, Mercer Elementary, Sherwood Elementary and Wilson Elementary.

Also open for tours all three dates will be Forest Hills’ central office at 7946 Beechmont Ave. in Anderson Township, which opened in 2016, and the Operations Center for the school district's bus depot and maintenance department at 3652 Round Bottom Road in Newtown, which opened last year.