Opening of new Fowlerville Elementary delayed by at least two months

FOWLERVILLE — Staffing shortages and delays in supplies will likely push the opening date for the brand-new Fowlerville Elementary School by two to three months, according to Superintendent Matt Stuard.

The new elementary school was originally scheduled to open in August for the start of the school year. Now, the district anticipates the building won’t be ready until at least mid-October, Stuard said.

That means approximately 520 elementary schoolers and their teachers may not transition to the new building until the holiday or winter break, given the first semester doesn’t end until mid-January 2025.

Until then, future Fowlerville Elementary Schoolers will remain at Smith Elementary, which has undergone renovations over the past two years. Once the new school is fully occupied, Smith Elementary will house the district’s early childhood program, as well as the community recreation department.

The building of Fowlerville Elementary School is funded by the approved 2021 school district bond. All active buildings within the district will also receive upgraded HVAC and air conditioning systems from the bond.

Stuard says the district was ready for possible delays, and that it may be a blessing — giving administrators, teachers and families more time to get accustomed to the new building before using it.

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The delay will also give Stuard and his staff more time to hire and prep a replacement for Smith Elementary Principal Kathy Gibson, who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Once the new school is fully operational, demolition of the former Munn Middle School will begin, likely sometime in 2025, Stuard said. The current Munn site will eventually house a greenspace area that serves as an entry and “welcome point” to the district’s main athletic complex.

— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Opening of new Fowlerville Elementary delayed by at least two months