Labor, material shortages delay completion date of new Fairless High School

BREWSTER — Labor shortages and material delays have pushed the completion date for the new Fairless High School back nearly six months.

School officials had hoped to finish out this school year in the new education building but the hold-ups have pushed the completion date from November to around May with students starting there in the fall.

"When you got a 129,000-square-foot building, there are a lot of moving parts," Superintendent Broc Bidlack said.

Bidlack isn't surprised it is taking a little longer than projected considering the size of the project and the hurdles they have faced, but he said the delay has provided a little breathing room when it comes to moving from the old high school to the new building.

"You got to realize with a building of this magnitude a few more months (of construction) is nothing," he said.

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Fairless building project faces challenges, delays

While the district knew there would be challenges because of the pandemic, it was fortunate to have already locked in the building costs in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold.

"We were very fortunate to be into the bidding before the prices went up," Bidlack said, adding some of his counterparts haven't been as lucky. "There were hard decisions to make but we were fortunate we were at a starting point before all of the uncertainties."

Despite locking in a price, it didn't ward off other pandemic issues such as labor and materials shortages.

Steel for the project was delayed for months. A concrete shortage prompted rationing and delaying sidewalks from being poured. And the main switch needed to transfer the building from temporary power to permanent was delayed, postponing the installation of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, Bidlack explained.

Last year's winter weather also shut down operations at times. With the building under roof, work has progressed.

"Sometimes work was stagnant," he said. "But most of the time, there is almost always something being done."

Forging ahead for the future

Crews broke ground in April 2021 for the new building, which is 18,000 square feet bigger than the existing high school.

It was the culmination of many years of discussions regarding the need to replace the building that has served Fairless students for six decades. The aging high school was outdated and beginning to break down.

The district had been able to secure funding from the state to replace both its elementary and middle school buildings, but faced with financial uncertainty during the last decade officials put plans to the side for a new high school.

In 2017, when it was announced the Rover pipeline would cross the district, officials wondered if this could be the answer they were looking for to replace the school.

With the pipeline under construction and an injection of cash coming into the district coffers, officials sought approval from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to build a new school. The OFCC agreed to co-fund the project.

Under the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission's Expedited Local Partnership, the state agreed to pay for 70% of the approved portion of the project, while the district funds 30%.

The estimated total cost is $34 million. The co-funded portion totals $20 million with the state providing $13 million of that cost and the district responsible for the remaining $7 million.

The district will fund an additional $14 million in items not funded by the state, including new locker rooms, public restrooms and a concession stand to serve outdoor events.

The pipeline funding allowed the district to move forward with construction without asking taxpayers for additional money.

"We've had some tough times," Bidlack said. "But we have grown together. We have grown our academics and we keep improving on putting our kids on a great path to the next phase of their life."

More than a year and a half after construction began, the building has taken shape.

The new school was built on the Terry Griffith baseball field. The baseball field was moved behind the elementary school to accommodate the new building.

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The main entrance is off Seventh Street ― or King's Highway ― and the building abuts the softball field.

The windows and brick were designed to mimic the existing elementary and middle school buildings, which were completed in 2007.

The building has a two-story academic wing with the remainder of the building being one story.

While the educational space is the same as the existing high school, the new space has been designed to better fit the needs of today's classroom. Some educational spaces will include movable walls, allowing flexibility to accommodate different classes and events.

The setup doesn't lock in how the spaces are used, Bidlack said.

There will be flexible seating options, including different shaped desks and some that allow for the height of the work surface and the seat to be adjusted, Bidlack said. Some of the seating will be a soft, comfortable spot for students and the cafeteria will feature traditional tables as well as cafe-style seating and booths.

"We want it to appeal to the students and for them to have flexibility," he added.

The state-of-the-art auditorium will have an orchestra pit and a full theatrical rigging system on the stage to accommodate cabling, lighting and backdrops. The space will accommodate 500-plus guests and Bidlack sees it as not only an asset for the district but as a place to host other events, including concerts.

Besides the main gymnasium, an auxiliary athletic wing was added and includes a gym and weight room. A new concession stand, public restrooms, and locker room for visiting teams have been added to the building to serve the football field.

The existing concession stand and restrooms will be demolished when the project is complete.

The new high school also will bring together the district's administrative team. Administrators are scattered throughout the district's buildings, Bidlack said.

Remembering the past while looking to future

One of the biggest questions Bidlack gets is what happens to the items in the old high school. There have been inquiries about getting a brick from the building or other items.

Officials have discussed an online auction to sell certain items. They had even considered trying to salvage the gym floor to sell pieces of it, but the construction of the floor made it impossible to remove it piece by piece, Bidlack said. There was also talked about selling the bleacher seating from the gym.

Alumni also want to get a last look at the building and see the new building.

The district hosted an alumni event over Labor Day Weekend and opened up the high school. More than 500 people visited the school, he said.

An open house and dedication are being planned before the school year begins in the new space.

Bidlack is enlisting the help of the Construction Academy, a group of students interested in construction trades, architecture and engineering that has been involved in the building project process.

He hopes the group will be able to lead tours of the building and share their knowledge about the project, including what type of materials were used or interesting features.

Last year, students in eighth through 12th grade were invited to apply to be part of the academy. The group meets every few weeks with representatives from Regency Construction Services of Brook Park, the project's construction management team.

During the sessions, participants learn a variety of things about the project including the different trades working on the project, how they work together and how they determine the amount of materials needed. They also got hands-on experience on the job site laying pipe with the plumbers and installing bricks in the building.

Bidlack said one activity involved Legos and following building plans to build a structure.

"They had to figure out how much materials they needed. If they ran out, they had to buy more without going over budget," he explained.

Participants don't earn a grade just a personal experience, Bidlack added.

Students participating in the group said they were interested in being part of the school's history, as well as having an interest in construction trades and architecture.

Sophomore Logan Barkan is intrigued by the construction.

"It's given me a cool opportunity to see the different jobs," he said. "I didn't know what went on behind the scenes. Now I do."

Like many of his peers in the group, Barkan was excited to get hands-on experience with the different trades as well as being able to put a piece of himself into the building.

"I got to lay a cinderblock in a window and write our names in the building," he said. "That will always be there."

Rosemary Chaney became interested in architecture when her grandfather showed her the blueprints of his house. The opportunity to work with project architects and see how it all comes together is fanning her interest in planning buildings.

Bidlack, who is set to retire next summer, said the building project was the largest he has ever been involved in.

He doesn't see the new high school as the biggest legacy of his time as Fairless' top educator.

"Just being part of this is exciting," he said. "It's been good. It's really energetic working at Fairless. We had to grow through some tough times but we did and we have done some good stuff. It wasn't just me it was the Board of Education, the staff and parents."

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.

On Twitter: @aknappINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: New Fairless High School opening planned for next school year