With students out of school for the summer, Hawley Elementary School’s HVAC project is well underway.

As of July 14, Downs Construction Company, LLC, Project Superintendent Jason Smith said, “Demo is going great. We’re right on schedule.”

Improving the school’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems has been on the local project radar for at least 20 years, according to The Newtown Bee archives.

In order to complete the current project, Hawley school leaders, district leaders, and community members have planned over the last school year on how to relocate Hawley students to both Sandy Hook Elementary School and Reed Intermediate School for the 2022-23 school year in order to complete the HVAC project by the 2023-24 school year.

With ceilings exposed, floors covered for protection, and workers busy throughout the building on July 14, the school was a drastically different scene from what it was a month ago, when students were still in session for school.

Both Smith and Newtown Public Schools Director of Facilities Bob Gerbert said the work is progressing well and there have been no major hits to the budget.

Smith said he knows Downs Construction Company loves working in Newtown, and he said work on the Building Information Modeling (BIM) is occurring now to approve shop drawings for needed equipment.

“We’re excited it’s finally happening,” Gerbert said of the project, years in the making, and said there is a “good team in place” to make it happen.

Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.