MILAN -Approximately 200 people, including school district officers, political leaders, school board members, architects, parents and students turned out on Aug. 27 for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Milan Elementary School.

District school officials including Superintendent Kilino Marquez, center in yellow hard hat, board members Earl Chavez and Sharon MacKendrick, Village of Milan officials and elementary students break ground on Thursday, Aug. 27. The new Milan Elementary School is expected to be complete during the 2010-2011 school year. BEACON / JARAMILLO

At least three years in the planning, the construction project will be accomplished in stages so that students have a consistent supply of classrooms.

Phase One will include construction of a two-story classroom building and renovation of the gymnasium. Fourteen existing classrooms and modular buildings will accommodate the student body during the construction phase.

Phase Two will be the demolition of the existing school, with the exception of the 14 classrooms and the gym.

At a cost of $9.3 million, the project is being financed with bond funds, with a matching contribution of $2.5 million from the Grants/Cibola County School District.

After a warm introduction by Milan Principal Edwina Trujillo, District Superintendent Kilino Marquez said, “”What is it that drives a community? It's projects like this. The kids get to see why we do what we do. Look at them,” Marquez said pointing to children playing in the trees. “They are so excited about the new school.”

Marquez went on to point out that an entire strategy had been devised to deal with the funding, design and contracting for the new school.

“A dream has now become a reality and we're fortunate to have one of the better staffs in the county at Milan Elementary School. Can you believe that the Village of Milan is going to have a two-story building?”

Trujillo is exited that the project is finally off the ground. “We had some setbacks during the planning, but we're finally moving forward,” she said. Trujillo related that the youngsters are very enthusiastic about the new construction.

Milan Mayor Tom Ortega and some village trustees were on hand for the groundbreaking along with school board members Sharon MacKendrick and Earl Chavez and architect Joseph Hughes.

It is expected that the new building will be completed next year.