BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WENY) -- Center Street Elementary School in Horseheads will officially close its doors at the end of this school year, marking a significant milestone in the Horseheads Central School District's 2030 plan. This long-term initiative aims to modernize facilities, incorporate 21st-century technology, and consolidate the district's elementary schools from four to three. 

Renovations are already underway at Big Flats Elementary as part of the transition. Once the construction is completed sometime in summer 2025, the school will welcome a total of roughly 500 students.

"What you're seeing is a lot of the renovations from our phase two or continuing our build of Horseheads 2030, and this is sort of the second-grade wing," says HHDS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Douglas. "The new gym, the new cafeteria is still under construction, as well as the new library, but it's the transitioning from our original building."

The 2030 plan is part of a larger capital improvement effort, approval by voters back in 2021. Under the plan, the elementary schools will be redistricted as part of the consolidation; Ridge Road Elementary students and teachers will temporarily shift to Center Street Elementary for one year, while Ridge Road undergoes a facelift. 

Once completed, the district will officially consolidate into three elementary schools, and close Center Street permanently. 

"With the shuttering of one school, eventually moving to three schools, they will be about 90 to 92% [capacity]. But [the] population over the next five to ten school years is expected to gradually rescind a little, not a lot, but enough that we will be well within the contractual limits of our student class size," says Dr. Douglas."

As part of the renovations, Big Flats Elementary is being updated to include modern classrooms, a finished gym, and spaces made for younger learners.

"We wanted that playfulness and the color that is known for elementary setting. So our hallways even though we have blue in every hallway, we've identified some hallways with different colors. So in the second-grade wing, you can see that there's a green accent, so this hallway in second grade is in the green," explained Dr. Douglas.

The district encourages families with questions to reach out to the district directly for accurate information, rather than relying on social media. School officials say letters will be made available to families about their child's academic year in early December.