The construction of the brand-new Edison Elementary School is moving along quickly, but it won’t be ready in time for the start of the school year. The delay is primarily due to the need for updated power infrastructure, which is being handled by the electric utility company, Penelec. Despite the setback, the new school promises to bring significant improvements to the east side school population once completed.

In what was once an empty lot behind the old Edison Elementary, a modern school building is now taking shape. The steel framework is fully erected, marking significant progress on the first new building in the district since East High School (now East Middle School) was built in 1999. Assistant Superintendent of Erie's Public Schools, Neal Brokman, expressed his satisfaction with the progress, saying, "Very, very happy with the progress that all the contractors have been making and really can't wait for the final product."

While construction crews are hard at work, the delay stems from the increased power demands of the new building. Penelec is responsible for installing new power poles and infrastructure, and the project is currently waiting its turn in the utility company’s queue. Brokman explained, "So we have to get new power poles set, new infrastructure put in and Penelec has a process for how that happens, and so we're just waiting for our turn in the queue." Encouragingly, Penelec trucks and crews were seen on-site during our recent visit, signaling progress on this critical step.

Once completed, the new Edison Elementary will feature 34 classrooms, a library, a tornado shelter area, an elevator, and a food pantry for community outreach. The school will accommodate up to 600 students, a significant increase from the current maximum of 480. Unlike the aging Edison building, which was constructed in 1931, the new facility will be equipped with modern amenities, including air conditioning, proper heating for the winter, and a leak-free structure.

For the first time in Edison Elementary’s history, students will also benefit from having separate gymnasium and cafeteria spaces. This improvement will make scheduling much easier and allow for more flexibility in daily operations. Brokman highlighted the benefits, saying, "Because we will have those two separate spaces, we can have more gym class during the day. As well as if the building decides we would rather have four lunches versus three, they have the ability to do that because they're two separate spaces."

The completion date for the new school is now projected for November or December 2025. This time line means that Edison students and staff may transition to the new building as early as January 2026. While the wait is longer than initially anticipated, the new Edison Elementary School is set to provide a state-of-the-art learning environment that will serve the community for years to come.