The 2024-25 school year will begin after Labor Day in the Karns City Area School District because of ongoing construction at the elementary school.

Classes are scheduled to begin Sept. 3 at the junior/senior high school and the recently renamed Karns City Area Elementary School, where construction work is expected to continue through October.

The school board approved changing the name from Chicora Elementary school last month, and received a project update at the Monday, Aug. 12, meeting.

“There will be ongoing construction after the school year starts through October,” superintendent Eric Ritzert said Tuesday.

The remaining work includes construction of an addition for the music and band rooms and the main student entrance, and work on the gym, Ritzert said.

He said the side entrance that was used last year will be used as the student entrance until the new entrance is finished.

Courtyards in the elementary school were built with soft surfaces suitable for playing and use as outdoor classrooms, he said.

“I’m confident that students will be excited about their new school,” Ritzert said.

Parents will be invited to tour the revamped elementary school sometime after classes start, he added.

The project to bring students from the now-closed Sugarcreek Elementary School to Chicora Elementary had been in the works for several years.

The renovation and expansion project at the elementary school includes construction of a new wing with 12 classrooms, a new cafeteria and kitchen. The school will have 35 classrooms when completed, not including specialized rooms. The project is costing the district about $25 million.

The school board on Monday approved change orders totaling $24,853.