We're getting a first look at plans for a brand new Edison School.

It will be the first new elementary school built in the city of Erie in nearly 30 years.

According to top district officials it's exciting, overdue and really needed. "It's desperately needed for that student population in that area," said Neal Brokman, assistant superintendent of schools.  "That building, while it's got all of the old character that you'd love to see in a school building - it's just gotten to the point where it's outdated,'he added.

Superintendent Brian Polito couldn't agree more. "We're real excited about this building and happy that we're able to move ahead with the project." Superintendent Polito said.  "I think it's going to be a real boost for that side of town, a brand new elementary school."

Construction is expected to start this fall, just south of the existing Edison School on East Lake Road.

According to Brokman, architects and engineers are finalizing the designs, color scheme and specifications. "We're getting into that nitty gritty part where they're really fine tuning the design and kind of putting the entire building together." 

The building will be situated toward the south end of the school property between Bacon Street and Marne Road with the entrance facing East 7th Street. They plan an improved layout and traffic flow for dropping students off and picking them up.

Interior designs for the school are bright and open.  A courtyard will allow windows and light into interior classrooms.

And for the first time, Edison Elementary students and staff will have a separate gym and cafeteria.

Edison currently has 420 students enrolled.  The new building will allow that enrollment capacity to increase to 600 students.

The district plans to adjust boundaries around a very full Diehl Elementary school and shift some 90 students to the new Edison. "We are looking to make it a little bigger...than the current Edison, we do have some capacity issues at Diehl elementary so we're looking to alleviate that and shift some of those students down to the new building when it's done," Polito said.

Assistant Superintendent Neal Brokman expects the final designs and specs to be released this summer.  The school board will award bids by early fall with construction to begin in late September or early October.

The district will install fencing around the new school construction, as classes continue in the current Edison building.  

The total cost of the new building is expected to come in around $37-million.  Polito said a combination of funds will pay for the new school. "We still have some funds left from the bond issue we did in 2019, we're using some of the stimulus funds from the pandemic as well as some money that we've saved over the last couple of years," the superintendent said.