Hill is the District Superintendent of Crestview Local Schools and is happy to showcase the new building, including the new athletic facility which is already in use.

Hammond Construction employees carry freshly cut pieces of drywall through the cement block hallways of the large building taking shape on Crestview Road.

It is early December and the construction employees are kept warm with large heaters and the sun shining through the many brand new windows that will provide students and staff with views of the outside.

“One of the things we are excited about is the natural light coming into the classrooms,” Hill said.

The existing football field and grandstand can be seen from the competition gym mezzanine being constructed. (Photo by Katie White)

He also said the teaching staff is “blown away by the size of the classrooms.”

The new art classroom features 14-foot-tall ceilings currently, although that is subject to change slightly once the technology features are installed.

Hill is excited to share the fruits of the Crestview School District’s labor–along with the community–over the last several years to make the new facility possible.

“The largest thing that got us in here was the community paying for the bond issue,” Hill said of the $2.84-million construction bond issue approved by voters in 2019.

With each new day the building is coming together. Classes are ready to have new doors installed, bright colors have been painted on some of the walls in the elementary wing, and hookups are already installed in the high school chemistry lab in preparation for the many science experiments that will be done there in the coming years.

A classroom with natural light. (Photo by Katie White)

Each level of the campus is duplicated so that every floor is the same layout, Hill added.

The district has gathered input from staff over the last few years to determine best needs for the new campus, and Hill said one of the major features is proximity.

By that he means the new campus has been designed in a way in which grades are close to one another; teachers that collaborate will be able to share educational spaces; and restroom facilities are also closer, so students and staff will not need to walk far to get to where they need to be.

For example, some classes in the Pre-K wing will have restroom facilities in or near the classroom to eliminate the need for students to be walking elsewhere.

“Our staff in general has been integral every step of the way,” Board of Education President Missy Wellman said. ” Every square inch of the building has been thought out to be used as an education space.”

A hallway on the floor of the building. (Photo by Katie White)

Hill also pointed out that safety was a priority in design was well, and noted that proximity also aids in that factor since each wing will be able to be locked down via technology immediately in the event of an emergency.

He also said that because of the layout those that are in lockdown will still have access to restrooms.

Another safety features includes the location of exits and entrances to keep students from walking back and forth across multiple areas.

The layout also promotes good sight lines, so that teachers and staff can see what is going on at all times.

Another safety element includes the inclusion of a drop-off loop that will eliminate the need for parents or anyone else to enter the building for certain reasons.

For example, if Johnny Doe forgot his lunch and his parent or guardian needs to drop it off, there is a window where they can simply drive up and drop off the lunch.

If someone does need to enter the building they must wait in the vestibule reception area until they are cleared to enter the building, Hill said.

The needs of students and staff with relation to education during the day wasn’t the only thing considered during the design phase.

Hill pointed out that in the administrative suite there is a nursing mother’s room, where staff can go to take care of those needs privately if necessary.

Hill is also pleased with the fact that the construction of the new campus is not interrupting the education taking place in the existing facilities.

“We are continue to educate students through this process. That was one of the criteria,” Hill said.

The community should also be happy to know that each of the exterior playgrounds featured outside the new campus will be available to the public outside of normal school hours once the new school is operational, which should be sometime in 2027.

Once everyone is moved into the new campus building the existing building will be demolished by Hammond Construction as well and the board and district officials are currently in discussion about what to do with the property once that building is no longer there.

Hammond Construction also completed the new United Local School District building and was also recently awarded the construction contract for the new K-8 building project for the Salem School District.

The projected project timeline: District occupancy, November 2026-January 2027; demolition of middle/high school, February 2027-May 2027; final site work, June 2026-September 2027; grand opening during the 2026-27 school year.

The Crestview Local School District new PreK-12 building project is taking shape on Crestview Road. Students are already able to use the new athletic complex, which was completed thanks to a donation from the Sebo family which covered the installation of lockers and flooring on the first floor. Dynamic Structures was responsible for the permitting process for the athletic facility. (Photo by Katie White)