by Chris Mayhew

FORT THOMAS — Moyer Elementary School’s front lawn will fill with hard hat-wearing students and school board members Tuesday, Nov. 10 to start a 30-month renovation and rebuild.

Final state approval for construction to begin on a $19.1 million renovation and rebuild of Moyer has been granted. Plans call for demolishing and rebuilding parts of Moyer built in the 1950s and 1970s and eventually renovating the 1930s front facade facing Highland Avenue.

Fort Thomas Independent Schools will break ground at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the school at 219 Highland Ave.

The Kentucky Department of Education had to approve Fort Thomas’ choice of Morel Construction as the contractor before the district could set a groundbreaking date. State tax money from the Kentucky School Facilities Commission is paying for the bulk of the project’s cost.

“This was the final piece in the approval process,” said Superintendent Gene Kirchner.

Students will wear blue shirts with a “Building Toward Our Future” at the groundbreaking, Moyer Principal Dawn Laber said.

“They all have little hard hats and shirts, and we’ve kind of made it our theme this year,” Laber said.

Each classroom has construction decorations this year so students can understand work outside is about their future.

Parents will receive updates on construction online from Laber through Infinite Campus.

“There hadn’t been much to communicate yet,” Laber said.

Tentative plans call for readying mobile classrooms in January and February for students in grades 3-5 to start using next March. Students will move out of a back wing in March a classroom at a time – not all at once, Laber said.

“Over spring break they’re planning on doing the demolition of the back part,” she said.

Students will stay in mobile classrooms until a new back addition is finished.

“The younger grades are in the front of our building, and that will go on as usual without them having to move,” Laber said. Renovating the front of the building is the last part of the 30-month project.

Moyer’s enrollment has risen from 450 students in 2011 to 518 students this year.

When construction is finished, Moyer will have space for 550 students with classrooms, resources classrooms, performance areas, a library media center, art room, gymnasium, cafeteria and administrative area.

There’s a lot of excitement from parents, student and especially teachers about getting started on construction with the groundbreaking, Laber said.

“So, really it’s just a day to celebrate,” she said.