Community Celebrates King Elementary Expansion

Phase one ribbon cutting ceremony was paired with the groundbreaking for phase two.

People of all ages gathered Monday with their own shovels to break ground on phase two of the expansion of King Elementary School.

The seven million dollar phase two, follows a 3.45 million dollar phase one that was opened to public viewing Monday.

“I’m feeling very grateful for this opportunity to bring the community together and take our next step in this building project,” said Principal Jennifer Stefan.

Deer River citizens watched as the ribbon was cut on four new kindergarten rooms, two tutoring rooms and a multipurpose media center.

This first phase will relieve the school from its current crowding issue.

“That will loosen up some room for special education. We’ll be able to shift some space inside, do some renovations that will happen this summer and take care of some of our immediate space needs,” said Superintendent Matt Grose.

That part of the project will be available to students this fall.

Many parts of phase one and phase two will be used by not only the school but the community as well. A Boys and Girls club, senior center and media center are all parts of phase two.

“I really think King School is going to turn in to a really positive hub for the Deer River community and the options are just endless for what this building is going to mean for the community,” said Stefan.

The project was widely supported when the referendum was voted on in September 2015.

The construction of phase two is scheduled to be done by August 2017 and school board members said they are looking forward to having everyone back for a second ribbon cutting ceremony.