Students and staff members at Cedar City’s East Elementary celebrated the official opening of their brand-new building on Aug. 10, 2026. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place during a back-to-school night event held in the hall and commons area.
Iron County School District Superintendent Lance Hatch participated in the ceremony, expressing excitement about turning the facility over to students, parents, and educators. Hatch noted that the school building features 136 concrete wall panels, with the thickest measuring 16 inches and the tallest reaching 40 feet. He stated that the walls required the equivalent of 144 concrete trucks to build.
East Elementary Principal Mike Moyle welcomed attendees to the ceremony, which was attended by school staff, district administrators, school board members, civic leaders, and contractors. While the main building is complete and ready for classes, construction continues on surrounding outdoor areas, including sidewalks, curbs, and playground areas. District officials stated they hope grass sod will be installed by mid-autumn.
The new facility follows the school's departure from its previous 75-year-old building on May 8. During the final week of that school year, students and teachers spent time on the Southern Utah University campus.
In related news, Iron County School District began the 2026-27 school year with a focus on compassionate service. On Aug. 5, nearly 400 teachers gathered at Canyon View High School for the district’s opening institute.
