By Dewey Terrill

jc post

The federal Office of Economic Adjustment has informed Geary USD 475 that the district is one of five school districts that will be invited to apply for a grant for a new elementary school. The facility would be located at Fort Riley.

David Wild, Chief Operations Officer for USD 475, made the announcement on Thursday. “We’re currently looking at standing that grade school up in the vicinity of Jefferson Elementary, and once that school is commissioned we would decommission Jefferson Elementary as well as Morris Hill Elementary. A final decision on placement is still under review, but the new school would replace two current older elementary schools.

This plan was announced by the school district some time ago, and language was asserted into the national Defense Authorization Act securing Fort Riley as one of five sites chosen for a new school. Wild confirmed the plan is to apply for $25 million to cover the cost of the new school, and the cost of removing the two older facilities.

Wild noted it would probably be 24 to 36 months before the new elementary school is commissioned.