Elementary students to relocate next school year Published Dec. 5, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Dylan Nuckolls 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Spangdahlem Elementary School students and staff will temporary relocate to the Bitburg Elementary School starting in the fall of 2014. Contractors are scheduled to renovate and build portions of SES as part of the Spangdahlem expansion project and transition of Bitburg Annex back to the German people in the coming years. "The goal is to construct a first class school that will meet the needs of our 21st Century Vision for teaching, learning and leading, and to do this as quickly as possible," said Carl Albrecht, assistant superintendent, Kaiserslautern District Schools. "The disruption at Spangdahlem Elementary School during the construction phases will create an unacceptable learning environment for students and teachers." Chi Anne McGrew, 52nd Mission Support Group school liaison officer, echoed Albrecht's sentiments about how moving students away from construction would benefit their school experience. "Safety is the biggest concern for our kiddos," McGrew said. "It just made more sense to pull them out of there and put them somewhere safer and more conducive to learning." Construction will begin in the fall of 2014 with a targeted opening in time for the 2017-2018 school year. The current school can hold more than 500 students. Once the new facility is complete, it will be able to support more than 850 students. With the expanded school's opening, all elementary students will move from Bitburg to the new facility. "We recognize that this move may be inconvenient for many, but we appreciate your flexibility and care for all of our students," said Col. David Julazadeh, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, in a letter to parents and the community. "The safety and security of our children are at the forefront of our thoughts." A town hall meeting is scheduled for Dec. 9 hosted by Department of Defense Dependent Schools and 52nd FW leadership from 4:30-6 p.m. in the base theater to help answer any questions the community might have on the relocation.