Newton School Administrators involved in overseeing the construction work at Aurora Heights Elementary School say the renovations and building addition are on pace to be completed by the end of July, which is when the project was scheduled to be completed. District leaders will get another update on the work this coming week. School Superintendent Tom Messinger says most of what’s being done now is occurring inside the building.

“Drywall and mud are going up in the renovation areas. Classroom plumbing rough-ins are going in at the new addition. The in-wall electrical inspection was passed for the new addition, and window installation is underway in the new addition as well.” 

New L-E-D lights have also been installed throughout the school building, and new boilers have been put in place, but are not fully installed. 

The Newton School Board approved the construction documents for the Aurora Heights Elementary renovations and addition on September 23, 2024, and awarded a $12,895,000 construction contract to Graphite Construction Group in Des Moines.