By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

INDIAN HILL - The first new school buildings here in 32 years are open and bustling with students who moved in this month when the district's high school and elementary were completed ahead of schedule.

Indian Hill school community residents are invited to Sunday afternoon ceremonies and tours of the $18 million high school and the $14 million elementary located near each other on Drake Road in the northern Hamilton County school system.

Madison Gilbert, an Indian Hill junior, said she is grateful for a chance to get to know her new school early rather than just before back-to-school in August.

"It gives us time to get our bearings," said the 17-year-old Gilbert.

The modern and stylish high school, which features more than 80 miles of wiring for school computers, is a far cry from the single-story, old school next door, Gilbert said.

"It was a nice building, and we all loved the old school, but this is a great building."

The former high school will become a middle school for the 2,300-student district that has only four school buildings.

Indian Hill Principal Terence Barton described the unusual switch of schools during the academic year as "going smoothly."

"A lot of people in the community are looking forward to coming here, and over at the elementary, to see the new facilities," said Barton.

The new high school's open house lasts from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the high school at 6865 Drake Road with opening ceremonies in the auditorium from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to drive the quarter-mile to the new elementary and its open house from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com