Frank Wagner Elementary students, staff and community members ceremoniously broke ground on the school's modernization project today. Construction is set to begin next week with the modernized facilities set to open in the fall of 2018.

The modernization projects will include the addition of 10 classrooms along with a music room, updated special education spaces, a new library and a makerspace for art and science. All portables will be removed. The total cost for renovating the 27-year-old elementary is $14.9 million.

In addition to modernizing the facilities and expanding instructional spaces, the project will also consolidate the campus under one roof. Current classes at Frank Wagner are spread out among separate buildings. Teachers comment that it takes upwards of 15 minutes on rainy or snowy days to lead the kids out of classrooms, across the parking lot and into another building for gym, library or music.

The current open campus isn't ideal for security either. Teachers and parents alike are looking forward to the safety and security that indoor hallways will provide.

Thank you voters for making this project possible! Thank you also to Faber Construction, Integrus Architecture, and City of Monroe officials for attending the ceremony!