BEATRICE - The city of Beatrice will soon have another school in the southeast Nebraska town.

On Friday morning, Beatrice Public Schools, as well as partners for the project, put shovels into the ground, breaking ground on the new elementary school in east Beatrice. Superintendent Jason Alexander expressed his pleasure and gratitude with the project moving forward.

“The thought behind this project is to really improve the educational opportunities here in Beatrice,” Alexander said. “In today’s society, when students are in an appropriate environment, it improves the ways in which they learn.”

The current buildings were built in the 1950’s and Alexander said it was time for an upgrade.

“We need a building that’s safe and secure, we need a building where we can serve our students that have special needs adequately and equitably and a building that’s just more efficient than what the current buildings are.”

Students from all ages, including the youngest level of pre-k were on hand, as well as partners for the project, and Sen. Myron Dorn. The building is projected to be ready in fall of 2024. Alexander says that still is the plan.

“From everything we’ve been told, we should have full confidence that August 2024 will be the date,” Alexander said. “We do recognize product delays and shortages, and you can never forecast the weather, but if all those things fall into place, I have full confidence we’ll be ready.”