USD 253 Emporia Public Schools has officially broken ground on improvements to one local elementary school as part of the $78 million Building for the Future bond initiative.
District administrators, school board members and Walnut Elementary school staff all convened at the school Thursday for a special groundbreaking ceremony. Walnut is one of three schools included in phase one of the district’s multi-million dollar improvement project approved by local voters last fall.
Improvements at Walnut will include updated classrooms, a new gymnasium and storm shelter and an expansion of the front office. Building Principal Jami Dakin says the improvements have been needed for quite some time.
She says she is excited that work is now beginning and has not had to be delayed due to outside factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to not disrupting the learning environment, Dakin says the project has provided a great interactive opportunity for their students.
Additional projects included in phase one of the Building for the Future initiative will include updates to Emporia High School and the construction of the district’s new early learning facility which will replace the Maynard Early Childhood Education Center.
For more information on Building for the Future visit the district’s website USD253.org/building-for-the-future.
