The community passed a bond this spring so that both schools can get more space! The construction is expected to start in the spring of 2025. The school district went through a very long process, so the students will be able to have all of the space they need.

To start the process of the bond, the school board members worked with architects and construction companies to come up with ideas. Then they had to meet with the teachers to figure out the needs of the students and staff.

“A building committee was formed including architects, construction management, administration, board members, and teachers,” says school board member Candace Kelley.
“Professionals met with the teachers and administration to determine where our needs lie, what kind of programming we wanted to support, student numbers, and other helpful information to determine the square footage, number of classrooms, and additional spaces to include in the final design.”

The whole bond process took five years. The school district worked to help this become possible for all of the students and staff. Over this time, they tried to pass the bond four different times and through those experiences they learned what the majority of the community would support. Once the bond passed they had to start really figuring out when the building process could actually start.

“I believe they are hoping to break ground this spring,” Principal Rob Geise said. “So this Spring we should see the first kind of construction. I don’t know if they decided if it is going to be at the elementary, if it is going to be here, or both locations. Our patrons should see the breaking of ground in the spring which is really exciting!”

At the Jr/Sr high school there are going to be a lot of different things added. The new addition will be where the grass and the trees are now by the highway side of the building, the east side of the building.

“The high school is going to have quite a few different things, safety and security will look different, we will have a new CTE area where Mr. Burns is. Maybe a future FCS area, drafting area,” Geise explained. “Three new science labs, a new art room, life skills will have a bigger, more expanded area, so more space, more classrooms!”

There are also going to be renovations and upgrades to the current spaces.

“Currently, the project is in the final stage of design. It’s an exciting time to be a Cougar,” said Kelley.