Fairview Elementary School in Bloomington welcomed members of the Big Ten conference, College Football Playoff Foundation and Indiana University Athletics on Thursday to unveil renovations done through the B1G Build Initiative. Indiana was the first Big Ten school to reveal its finished project, which included a new large group instruction room.
The Big Ten and the CFP Foundation introduced the initiative Sept. 2. committing $300,000 to the restoration of six elementary schools representing six Big Ten programs including Indiana. Omar Brown, Big Ten senior vice president of community and impact, spoke during the Thursday event.
“As a conference,” Brown said during the event Thursday. “Not only are we the best athletically, academically, but we also consistently improve the communities around us,”
Following a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Brown, Fairview principal Kelsey Pearson and IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Scott Dolson, the newly redone large group instruction room was filled with Fairview Elementary students, teachers and school administrators. Big Ten, CFP Foundation and Indiana Athletics representatives were also at the event, including several Indiana student-athletes.
With the restoration of the room, Pearson said, the redone environment allows for easier usage of the shared space needed every school day. The LGI room is used daily for multiple classes as well as teacher and staff meetings.
“Our LGI room was the perfect choice to receive this renovation,” Fairview Principal Kelsey Pearson said. “It’s truly utilized daily by so many groups of people.”
Students from the school’s world music class performed a live percussion piece, breaking in the acoustics of the new practice space. Fairview offers multiple elective art and performance classes to 3rd-6th graders, including world music.
The room renovations focused primarily on furniture — swapping old, bulky tables and chairs for easy-to-move wheeled workspaces, allowing for room reorganizing when necessary.
“With this renovation, the LGI room is immediately more welcoming and visually appealing,” Pearson said.
Indiana football fifth-year linebacker Isaiah Jones and fifth-year defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker, Dolson and even Hoosier the Bison ensured that students, teachers and families felt the love from the university’s athletic department.
“A lot of attention in IU athletics comes from what we do in competition,” Dolson said. “But we take all of our activities, including in our classrooms just like you’re in your classrooms, and serving the community very, very seriously.”
The morning ended with Indiana student-athletes gifting Hoosiers merch to the students in attendance, giving time for elementary students to meet collegiate players. Members of Indiana football, volleyball, rowing and other sports participated.
“Nothing means more to our student-athletes at IU than to bring smiles to the Fairview students,” Dolsen said.
The Big Ten and CFP Committee will unveil completed work on elementary schools representing Rutgers, Michigan State, Minnesota, Washington and UCLA from Sept. 17-Nov. 13.
