With students returning to school on Tuesday the USD 475 Board of Education took the opportunity to tour a majority of the districts facilities Friday.

The tour started at the new Fort Riley Middle School which will open on time for students. The $39 million school is nearly double the size of the former school which was torn down at the end of last years school year.

Dr. Ferrell Miller, Board Member said that he was in awe of the new school.

“My career started here in 1970 as a teacher, and one of the first things that we talked about when I came on the staff was we were going to build a new school, and so that’s been thirty plus years ago or more,” said Miller. “I just think this is just a beautiful facility, I’m so impressed with the work that has been done here. It’s great for kids.”

The last time the board toured the new school was while it was still under construction and mostly just cement walls according to Kim Milleson, Board President.

“A lot of times you cant vision, even though Hutton and all those who made this come together had that vision, it was a lot harder to see with it just all concrete. Now that it has all come to fruition it’s wonderful and we are quite proud of this building,” Milleson said.

Work is still being done inside the school, the new 800 seat auditorium will not be complete until after Labor Day along with other touch up and cleaning work. The north parking lot and new football field and track is also still under construction, where the old school used to sit. That work is expected to be complete by the end of October.

The new school features 64 classrooms, an 800 seat main gym and an auxiliary gym with an additional 233 seats. It also features a vocal music, band and orchestra room.