As we kick off the 2024-25 school year, students have new spaces to look forward to at Fayetteville-Manlius High School. Construction ramped up over the summer months, leading to exciting updates.
This summer, crews began demolition on the existing technology lab, the wellness center, cafeteria, counseling office, and broadcast journalism spaces. A new retaining wall was also put in and sidewalk work was completed around the new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) wing addition.
With the STEM wing complete, students and staff will be able to occupy and utilize the new state-of-the-art facility when they return to school in September.
The main office, nurse’s office and counseling office will also be open for use. All three offices are now centrally located in House I near the school’s main entrance by the auditorium. The counseling office will house the school’s counselors, psychologists, social workers and family-school liaisons, who were previously scattered throughout the building in separate locations.
In the cafeteria, the old flooring was removed; new walls, ceilings and entry doors were installed; some new kitchen equipment was installed and electrical and HVAC upgrades were completed. The cafeteria will be operational and open to students for the start of school.
The work is part of a $52 million capital improvement project, which was approved by voters in December 2021.
Construction to continue throughout the year
The capital project is focused on modernizing and expanding the district’s only high school.
The cafeteria expansion is underway with the new foundation and foundation walls poured. Next to the cafeteria expansion in the courtyard, most of the concrete walkways have been poured, the amphitheater seating structure is in place, and planter boxes have been installed.
The district anticipates the new cafeteria expansion, learning support center next to the expanded cafeteria and the broadcast journalism space to be completed in 2025 before the end of the school year. The courtyard is expected to open to students for the start of the 2025-26 school year.
Work will also be ongoing in the wellness center, the new auxiliary gym, and the new photography instructional space.
“It is heartening to see the community’s continued support in ensuring students have safe spaces to learn and updated equipment to make sure they are getting the best possible education here at F-M,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Craig J. Tice. “We are so thankful to everyone who came out for the May school district budget vote and helped us pass yet another capital improvement project to address aging infrastructure across all of our school buildings.”
In May 2024, voters approved a $15.4 million capital project that includes roof replacements at F-M High School, Wellwood Middle School, Eagle Hill Middle School, and the District Office, plus safety and security updates at all school buildings, and HVAC upgrades at some school buildings.
The district submitted a roofing bid through the NYS Education Department in August. Bidding for the project is expected to begin in March of 2025, with construction kicking off next spring or summer.