Every two weeks, Kim Davis pins a photo showing the progress of her new school building on a bulletin board.
Davis, assistant principal of Fair Street International Baccalaureate World School, said students are excited to watch the building come up.
Earlier this year, the old Fair Street School was torn down and construction began on the new 100,000-square-foot facility.
Gainesville City Schools Superintendent Merrianne Dyer said construction is on schedule and on budget.
The new school building will open in December 2013 if everything continues as planned.
The project has a budget of $15 million.
She said it is easy to see the new building’s “footprint” now that steel beams are up for all of the building except the gym area.
She said the completion date could change, but the system will have a better idea closer to the end of October.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that it could be ready a little earlier,” the superintendent said.
Davis said that there has been a lot of interest in the progress of the construction from former students, staff and neighbors.
Davis encouraged any former students to share their photos and memorabilia with the school for its heritage hall.
The hall will be near the bell tower and will showcase the school’s history of more than 75 years.
The students and staff are temporarily located at Wood’s Mill Academy.
Davis said everyone at the school is eager to move into their new home in their old familiar neighborhood.
“For so long we wanted a new school. We dreamed of a new school, and this is real. We can see it,” Davis said.