FAIRBANKS — While schoolchildren were enjoying summer vacation, some local schools were undergoing maintenance projects, upgrades and additions.

By the time school bells rang for the new school year in mid-August, all but two projects were completed.

Most of the projects started in the spring and continued through the summer, but a few were carried over from the previous year, said Larry Morris, project manager with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

A large foundation is ready to be enclosed at Barnette Magnet School, part of the third phase to house a two-story addition to the school. The new south wing will encompass a new multipurpose room, main entry, media center, five classrooms and two learning studios.