PROCTORVILLE – "It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman," Fairland High School Band members shouted as four people from Tri-State Sky Divers dove out of a plane and landed in the Fairland High School stadium during Tuesday’s official ground-breaking for the district’s new schools.

Wednesday, May 17, 2000

PROCTORVILLE – "It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman," Fairland High School Band members shouted as four people from Tri-State Sky Divers dove out of a plane and landed in the Fairland High School stadium during Tuesday’s official ground-breaking for the district’s new schools.

Fairland School District officials marked the commencement of the construction phase of the project – paid for through $28 million in state building assistance funds and $4 million in local property tax monies approved by a levy in November 1998 – with the ground-breaking ceremony.

"It took not one person, not one group, but an entire community to come together to make a bond levy pass," Superintendent Jerry McConnell said. "This community should be very proud of that and that’s why we’re here today – to thank them."

Without the community’s support, Fairland could fall behind other districts that have newer and more technologically-capable facilities, said Charles Workman, board president.

"I want to show the greatest appreciation to taxpayers of the community, to faculty members, committee members and students," Workman said. "These youngsters will receive an education others might not. Thanks for coming and thanks for all your support."

The people most interested in the new school buildings are not the ones who cast yes votes in the ballot box, however. It was the children who attend Fairland schools that wore the brightest smiles at Tuesday’s ceremonies.

"It’s exciting to think of attending a new building with new equipment and teachers," fifth-grader Alexis Cash said. "I’m very happy voters voted yes to the bond levy, making a new school possible. Fairland High School – bigger is better."

Rachel Marten, a Fairland High School sophomore, hopes to be among the first to graduate from the new high school.

"New computers, greater technology and facilities and smaller class sizes are all things within our grasp as soon as we get our new schools," Miss Marten said. "And, naturally, the sooner the better. Today, we begin work that will carry us into the 21st century. It’s no longer just a dream, it is our reality."

Fairland Board of Education members will open bids for site work preparation Thursday. After awarding the bids, work should begin within the next couple of weeks, McConnell said.

Anticipated completion date of the new Fairland High School is Thanksgiving 2001.

And high school principal Eddie Capper cannot wait to walk through the halls. He already has his hard hat so that he might take a peek inside the new building as it goes up.

"I’ve been excited about this since the architect came around and started the planning," Capper said. "There’s been a lot of work done. It looks like Thanksgiving 2001. That’s the target they’re shooting for. About 18 months – I’ll be tickled to death if we could do that."