A groundbreaking was held on Fri., April 20 to celebrate the beginning of construction for a major expansion and modernization of Atherwood Elementary School at the school construction site, 2350 E. Greensward Street.

Due to voter support of Measure C4 to improve school facilities, the school will receive new regular classrooms, kindergarten classrooms with their own play area, library, multi-purpose room, administrative area, a permanent toilet building, site improvements and modernization of existing buildings.

Atherwood received a high priority for use of bond funds because of the high need for improvement of existing facilities and the need for new classrooms to accommodate the enrollment growth that is expected from Big Sky housing subdivisions under construction. Atherwood has the highest percentage of portable buildings of any school in the district. Because the new facilities are planned to accommodate enrollment growth, the improvements will be jointly funded by Measure C4 Bond funds and school fees paid by the new housing developers.

The improvements will be built in two phases. Phase One is scheduled to be completed in March 2006, followed by Phase Two to begin construction in June 2006 and completed one year later. The cost of Phase One is $4.8 million.

The original school was built in 1972. Some of the portable buildings were built in 1969 and relocated to the school. The portable buildings will be removed when the new construction is complete.