Braving the cold temperatures Saturday, dozens of Benton-area community members gathered on Neck Road for the official opening of the new elementary school.

“This project has been many years in the making, with the work beginning seven years ago in October 2019 when we received a call from Commissioner (Pender) Makin informing us that she recommended construction of the replacement of Fairfield Primary School, that once the bore the name Lawrence High School,” Roberta Hersom, superintendent of the Fairfield-based school district, said in prepared comments.

In November 2023, the state Board of Education approved full funding for the $45.6 million project. Work started in early 2024, and continued throughout the year with foundation work starting in March, structural steel in July and the building being closed in near the end of the year. Interior work started in January.

At 81,322 square feet, the building houses 28 state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities like a library media learning commons, music rooms for band and choral programs, resource rooms, life skills and day treatment center, and a gymnasium that will accommodate physical education programming, and PAL programming after school, among other facilities.

Hersom said the school will provide improved educational opportunities and equitable access to programming.

“The children of MSAD 49 will have the quality experience and support that they fully deserve, and our staff will have far more adequate resources to improve outcomes for our students,” she said.

Maine School Administrative District 49 is based in Fairfield and also includes Benton and Clinton.