USD 475, Fort Riley and state leaders including Gov. Laura Kelly turned shovels full of dirt during the groundbreaking for a new elementary school on Post. The 81,000 square foot facility that will also include six Pre-K classrooms, will be built on Leonard Ave. on the site of the former Jefferson Elementary School.
Kelly told the audience the event was meaningful to her, noting that her father was career Army and she spent much of her "grade school years attending school on Army posts all over the United States and overseas. I'm also gratified to learn that one thing of the new school would be dedicated to an early childhood program."
Perry Wiggins, Executive Director of the Governor's Military Council, said he was the son of a noncommissioned officer. "I'm a proud military brat and I'm a product of a school just like this one. " Wiggins added, "It makes me feel good that I can be a part of something that's going to make a difference in the eyes and the hearts of our young people."
Col. William McAnnay, Fort Riley Garrison Commander, called the relationship between the school district and Fort Riley the best school - installation partnership that he has seen in his 27 years in the Army.
Federal grant funds are paying 80% of the cost of the school while USD 475 will fund 20%.