AUBURN — A ribbon-cutting ceremony and public tours of the new $126 million Edward Little High School will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, Superintendent Cornelia Brown announced Wednesday to the School Committee.

Guest speakers will include Maine Commissioner of Education Pender Makin and Mayor Jason Levesque, she said, adding she hopes Gov. Janet Mills will also attend.

Construction began in March 2021 next to the old school at 77 Harris St. The brick building includes not only classrooms for regular instructions, but space for integrated career technical programs and a 1,200-seat auditorium. Outside are a full complement of athletic fields.

The School Department received a certificate for occupancy Tuesday, Business Manager Mark Conrad said. However, certain areas of the building, including the auditorium, are not ready for occupancy.

“By and large we are all set to welcome students back to school,” he said.

Athletic teams have started practicing on the new fields, he said. Staff members have already started setting up their classrooms.

The district started moving desks, chairs and other items from the old high school into the new one last month. At some point the statue of Edward Little will be moved to the front of the new school.

Contractors have started demolishing the old high school, working first inside the building, Conrad said.