Tuesday morning, students and teachers from Fairacres Elementary School welcomed Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education members, additional district staff and AKS Architecture to officially cut the ribbon on voter-approved bond renovations recently completed at the school, which is also celebrating its 50th birthday.
The event included stellar student performances by Fairacres’ third graders, who sang the national anthem, a Fairacres bucket drum ensemble, the Picacho Middle School Scorpion Jazz Band, and the Mayfield High School drum line.
Following some opening remarks by LCPS President Pamela Cort and Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz, the Fairacres Student Lighthouse team thanked voters and staff for “showing kindness and keeping us learning through the construction.”
Fairacres’ motto is “Show up, work hard and be kind.”
"I am filled with excitement for all the amazing things our students will accomplish here,” said Fairacres Principal Jana Ward. “Our new fifth-grade classrooms, our state-of-the-art computer lab, and our vibrant art and music rooms are going to unlock even more opportunities for our Tigers to dream big, work hard, and be kind to one another. I have no doubt that the future of our school is brighter than ever."
Since opening, Fairacres has been a cornerstone of learning in the Doña Ana County community. Tuesday’s celebration marked one of the most significant transformations in the school’s history. Keeping with the vision for LCPS, the renovation project aimed to create a space where all learners thrive, providing modern, functional, and engaging spaces that will serve the students for many years to come.
The newly completed 22,000 square-foot addition includes a multipurpose room with a stage, a brand-new kitchen, four new classrooms, additional support spaces and an expanded lobby with restrooms for school and community events. In addition to these indoor improvements, the project also includes new playground equipment, outdoor learning spaces, a garden, shade canopies for shelter and comfort, improved drainage systems and a new emergency access road.
The former cafeteria and kitchen were repurposed into valuable new spaces, including a music classroom, an art classroom, a parent workroom, a special education classroom, and a computer lab.
For video highlights on the new expansion at Fairacres, please click here.
###