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Fairport Harbor Ribbon Cutting for the New PreK-12 Campus
The Village of Fairport Harbor, situated along the shores of Lake Erie, Ohio, is a 1.11 square-mile town with a population of about 3,100 people and is home to the Marine Museum and its iconic 1825 lighthouse.
Despite their century-old buildings, the school district of this small village had big ideas for the betterment of their students, with an ambitious plan to update the existing educational facilities to provide an inspiring, top-tier learning environment that would promote collaboration and be adaptable to meet personalized student needs.
The community voted to pass a $5 million bond issue in November 2021 to help fund a new 116,000 SF PreK-12 school campus on the existing Harding High School site, which would replace their aging elementary and middle-high school buildings. State funding through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) covered the remainder of the $50 million construction project cost.
With the groundbreaking ceremony in May 2023 behind them, the Fairport Harbor Exempted Village School District hosted a grand opening celebration in December 2025 for students, staff, community members, and local officials. Residents enjoyed the Fairport Harbor ribbon cutting ceremony and a tour of the new PreK-12 school.
A Historic Celebration
Filling student dining, the observation stands, the staircase, and the second-floor overlook, the local community packed into the new school to show their support for this notable occasion in Fairport Harbor’s history.
Superintendent Bill Billington summarized the occasion, “Today isn’t just about cutting the ribbon. It’s about opening the doors to a future full of promise, opportunity, and inspiration for every child who walks through these halls.”
Bill expressed his excitement for the opportunities Fairport Harbor students and residents will have using the new facility. “This is a place where dreams will be sparked, where students will discover their passions, and where teachers will do their most impactful work. This is also where our community will come together time and time again.”
“Wow. Three years ago, we were breaking ground right over here.” Fairport Harbor Mayor Timothy Manross thanked everyone and explained that when a small community has a shared vision, they can make big things happen. “We’re a one-square-mile town with no appreciable industry, but you decided to support our future and our children when you voted for the levy that put the school building in.”
Mayor Manross continued, “2025 will go down as a historic year in Fairport Harbor, not only for the 200-year tradition that we just celebrated at the lighthouse, but this ribbon cutting celebrates you, the community.”
"You have committed to the next hundred years of Fairport Harbor students."
Timothy Manross
Mayor
Fairport Harbor Ribbon Cutting for the New PreK-12 Campus
Touring the New Campus
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees were invited to enjoy cookies and take a self-guided tour of the new facility to experience the modern learning spaces, which included a gymnasium, classrooms, STEAM spaces, and collaborative areas.
“It’s the community that truly makes this place a home, not the building,” said ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Adam Parris, RA. “We’re hoping this building begins one hundred more years of tradition. We’re privileged to be part of this project and excited for you to see the new spaces.”
Students, parents, and curious residents walked the bright hallways, sat in the comfortable furniture, and stood at the front of the clean classrooms. Children made the best use of the gymnasium by running end to end on the shiny wood flooring. There was something of interest for everyone to see and help the community feel proud of what they accomplished.
“I have kids in the district, so I really care about what goes on here,” said Board of Education President Justine Levine. “Whether a student is college-bound or interested in the trades, we think it’s important to give them career and college opportunities to make sure they get prepared to join the workforce. Now that they’re no longer in 100-year-old buildings, our kids will get the full, modern student experience.”
The new school reflects Fairport Harbor’s history and identity while providing a modern, future-ready
campus to serve students from early childhood to graduation. It was also designed as a community hub for local activities and events.
The Fairport Harbor PreK-12 campus was made possible by the determined Fairport Harbor community, the OFCC’s state co-funding, and partnerships with ThenDesign Architecture and C.T. Taylor Construction. Finish work for the parking lot is still being completed, and the first wave of students began attending the new PreK-12 school after the winter break in January 2026.
"This school represents our shared belief that our students deserve the best. And today, we deliver on that promise."
Bill Billington
Superintendent
Fairport Harbor PreK-12 Campus Tour
Marc Cebrian
Communications
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Marc Cebrian
Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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