Building project set to be complete for 2026-2027 school year

ARLINGTON — The Arlington Local School District's new school building is still on schedule to be completed by the end of the upcoming school year, says superintendent Kevin Haught and board of education president, Craig Durliat. According to the district website, the original building was completed in 1923, with subsequent additions and renovations made in 1948, 1958, 1977 and 1992. "We're going to tear down the current building," Durliat said, later clarifying that a portion of the building added in 1992 would be renovated but would remain in use. In an April 2023 statement from the district, the board said that no dirt had been turned, but they had been working to get their finances together. By May 16 of the same year, an updated statement announced an agreement to work with Fanning Howey to design the project. In May 2024, a groundbreaking ceremony was held and construction began. While a portion of the construction will be completed while school is in session, Durliat said, the construction will not disrupt class time as most of the construction is not on the same site. He also said they may have to shut down a back hallway during some renovations, leaving students to find a different route to class. "There may be some minimal disruptions to account for the safety of students." Durliat said. The building project has been in discussion for 15 to 20 years and all said and done is estimated to cost approximately $54 million. "We planned for $44 million," Haught said. A budget that was made based on a levy for $45 million passed in November 2022. "That was a planned expense." As of printing, the Arlington Local School District is not planning to add any more levies. The other $10 million, not covered by the levy, will be borrowed and paid back over three years. The extra expense is due to "additional costs because of what we needed in our building," Durliat said, also saying part of the $10 million was simply choices the district made to add some needed updates that would, in the long run, save the district money. "We've talked about bringing a softball diamond over here; we've talked about redoing bleachers and now we've chosen to do those now, as one…. I don't know the number but I feel comfortable that we're saving a couple million dollars by doing this all together." In addition to a new K-12 school building, the Arlington School District will also add a vocational- agriculture education building, a sports complex and a new parking lot. "We didn't just want to put in a new baseball field, or music or band room," Haught said. "We're trying to do it for all our kids." According to Durliat, concrete for the new building has been completed, the decking and roof is almost complete and construction on the Vocational Agriculture building is set to begin in August. The baseball and softball fields are planned to be completed for the upcoming spring season.