Staff report

FORT THOMAS – The Fort Thomas Education Foundation and the Fort Thomas Independent Schools will celebrate the completion of the Highlands High School campus with a community event on Sunday, May 22.

The event will begin with a brief presentation at 12:30 p.m. at the newly completed Gymnasium Plaza.

After the presentation, attendees will be invited to tour all Highlands buildings to see the results of the past decade of renovations, including both academic buildings, the gymnasium and locker rooms and the new Highlands Fieldhouse.

Families can also enjoy bounce houses and other fun games along with cake and $1 cheese coneys.

“After 10 years of hard work and dedication, we now have facilities that can support the talents of our students and faculty,” Highlands High School Principal Brian Robinson said in a press release.

“We are so grateful for such an incredible community who continually supports education and our schools. The opportunities for our students to create, innovate and grow to meet the demands of the 21st century have been enhanced as well as our ability to attract and retain the best educators. Thank you to the Education Foundation, the Board of Education, alumni, and Fort Thomas community for making this celebration possible,” Robinson said.

Renovations to the Highlands campus began in May 2006 with a four-phase strategy. Funding for this $40 million, decade-long project is a result of a strong public-private partnership between the school district and the Fort Thomas Education Foundation which provided nearly $10 million through donations and matching gifts to the Campaign for Highlands.

All facilities now include upgraded HVAC systems, wireless integration of all classrooms and offices, 100 percent handicap accessibility and improved safety features.

Amy Shaffer, president of the FTEF Board of Directors, said, “The completion of the renovations to the Highlands High School campus and the Campaign for Highlands is an amazing accomplishment; not only for the FTEF but also for the community as a whole. For this reason, we felt it important to have a community celebration for everyone to enjoy. It is inspiring how supportive Fort Thomas residents and HHS alumni are of our schools and students, not only with this project but also through our Endowment and Teacher Grant Programs. We could not achieve what we do without the support of our remarkable community.”

Here’s a review of the Highlands campus renovation:

•Phase One (started May 2006) focused on the North Academic Building featuring a Performing Arts Center, Mass Communications Suite, cafeteria with outdoor terrace and upgraded classrooms.

•Phase Two (started June 2011) included a new exterior of the South Academic Building (formerly Highlands Middle School), new energy-efficient windows and a 30-year roof.

•Phase Three (started April 2013) involved the interior of the South Academic Building with upgrades to the remaining classrooms, addition of a community Fitness Center, locker rooms and band practice room.

•Phase Four (started March 2014) focused on student athlete facilities including the construction of the Highlands Fieldhouse which houses a turf practice field, dance practice room and a mezzanine level weight facility. Death Valley was upgraded to allow for additional parking spaces and an outdoor practice field. The final phase also included much needed renovations to the Highlands Gymnasium, gym lobby, concessions and locker rooms.