USD 475 has scheduled a VIP event at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, to celebrate the commencement of vertical construction on the new Junction City High School. The goaL is to keep the community informed of construction progress.

Scheduled speakers will include USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, Congressman Roger Marshall, Board of Education President Rina Neal, Geary County Commission Chair Charles Stimatze and Junction City Mayor Pat Landes.

The 355,000 square foot high school facility is being built on a 159 acre site on the west side of Junction City, north of K-18 Highway. The new school will include parking for 800 vehicles, 116 general and lab classrooms. and will be able to accommodate up to 1,800 students.

Vertical construction of the walls for the school is scheduled to begin in mid-Nov. following placement of footings. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2021, with the school opening for use in Aug. 2021.