Meet the New and Improving Trumbull High School [Video]

Some of the ceilings might still be open, but will open on schedule this year.

That's what officials said during two walkthroughs of A House over the past two weeks. Town Council members, candidates, First Selectman Tim Herbst (THS Class of 1998) and school staff took the tours. Mary Beth Thornton (THS Class of 1976), Council minority leader and the democrat running against Herbst, also attended. The school was built in 1971.

Crews of more than 100 construction workers have been working weekends and 12-hour days to get the essential areas in working order, including the gym, the classrooms, the cafeteria and the kitchen.

Before the school year starts, a crew of 400 will clean the site so the town Fire Marshal's Office can give its seal of approval.

The upgrades include updated technology in the classroom, better insulated windows and individual thermostat controls in the classrooms. The entire building will be air-conditioned, as well as computer rooms containing heat-sensitive equipment.

Sprinklers will be hidden in the ceiling, compared to exposed heads before. The gym floor, as old as the school, has been replaced and half the bleachers will be ready.

Lockers were shortened and widened.

There is a new main office and there are new guidance and security offices. The new auditorium is the only real addition, and that is awaiting some finishing touches but has been used.

"The blueprint is not bigger. We just punched out walls," said SchoolSupt. Ralph Iassogna.

All the major elements will be ready, construction officials said.

Added Iassogna, "I want to commend the students and staff" for living with construction over the last several years.

And everyone on the tours commended the district for the improvements to the building.

Steve Kennedy, the district's plant manager, said maintaining the building will be more complicated now, but the changes were necessary.

"For the occupants, it should be a much nicer facility," he said.

Between 2,300 and 3,000 people are on the campus each day, about 2,200 of them students, officials estimated.

Construction is expected to conclude in late 2012 with a new concession stand and ticket booth. In fiscal year 2012-2013, the town will be bonding about $1.8 million to finish the renovations, which are expected to reach a total of about $68 million.