Fitchburg school leaders told the School Committee Jan. 6 they hope to start a phased move into the new Crocker Elementary building as soon as the day after April vacation to address storage constraints and allow demolition of an existing wing.

Superintendent Thompson and project staff said the construction footprint is tight and the project has produced approximately 17,000 cubic yards of soil that must be stored or moved. The district explored options such as off-site storage at the airport or Burbank and on-site staging, but all carried significant cost or logistical challenges for arrival and dismissal patterns.

The recommended approach — discussed with contractor Fontaine and project manager Colliers — is to occupy a completed section of the new building (where first- and second-grade classrooms will be located) immediately after April vacation, then begin demolition of the adjoining wing so the main entrance and parking can be finished for the fall. Jeremy, the project lead, said contractors and the district are coordinating a moving company and have scheduled meetings to finalize logistics.

A parent/guardian information session was scheduled for Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at Crocker Elementary to review the plan and answer questions, and staff reported generally positive feedback from December meetings with teachers. The district said it will compensate staff for packing and unpacking time and work with the union on those logistics.

Committee members acknowledged the cost savings of a single move versus moving materials and soil multiple times and welcomed the clearer timeline; the district said it will continue to update families and the committee as plans firm up.