A rainbow appears Aug. 31 over the new Edward Little High School during a preseason soccer game between the Red Eddies and South Portland, the first day students attended the school on Harris Street in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
AUBURN — Nearly all the work that remained for the new Edward Little High School since it opened in August is complete, according to Superintendent Cornelia Brown.
Construction of the performing arts auditorium is finished, according to Brown. The balcony space still needs final approvals, which is expected to come next month, before it can be used.
Several sports fields still need to be completed, including baseball and softball fields, she said. Unfortunately the new fields will not be ready this school year, but will be complete by 2025, so the old fields will be used this school year.
With the old high school completely torn down, construction for the fields and a parking area for buses will begin, she said.
Unlike the old school, there is now a state-of-the art weight room, she said.
The new building is about 70% larger than the old building.
The state covered 88% of the roughly $126.6 million cost, requiring the city to raise about $15.2 million through a 20-year bond.
The new school also houses a satellite campus for Lewiston Regional Technical Center, with cosmetology, culinary arts and other technical classes being taught there.
Students have settled into the building “nicely,” Brown said. They enjoy the lighting and think the space is beautiful.
Teachers have access to spaces specifically designed for each program, along with a lot of technology to aid in teaching inside classrooms.
“So those are some things that really have enhanced the educational experience for kids,” she said.
The new building is a testament to the community’s support of the school and staff, she said. She is grateful to the community.
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