The new Wilson Area Intermediate School on Firmstone Street in the Avona Heights section of Wilson opened for students in April, even as some inside construction work continued.

Long time Wilson teacher and  administrator, Tony Tarsi, was named principal.

Now the interior work is complete and the 700 students in fifth to eighth-grades, the 57 teachers and 33 professional and support staff can use and  enjoy 44 academic classrooms plus new and upgraded art and technology areas, in their new school.

Construction of the Wilson Area Intermediate School began in the summer of 2009 at the former Philip F. Lauer Middle School.

New classrooms were built and some classrooms, the swimming pool and gym, were retained, upgraded and incorporated into the new school. Students remained at Phil Lauer during demolition and construction.

Exterior work is continuing on the construction of a parking lot, an access road to the bus garage and upgrading athletic fields at the campus.