The dust has been cleaned up, and Broken Bows’s middle school and high school students are now settled into new classrooms, locker rooms, music and performance facilities, and career and technical education shops. On Monday morning, Broken Bow Public Schools formally celebrated the completion of an eight-year-long renovation journey with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Superintendent Darren Tobey addressed the gathered students and community members before cutting the red ribbon symbolizing the end of this journey.
“This new Broken Bow Middle School and High School isn’t just a building,” said Tobey. “It’s a symbol of belief. It’s a symbol of hard work. And it’s a symbol of what happens when a community refuses to settle. Thank you for believing in the dream to make Broken Bow the best it can be.”
While planning and funding efforts kicked off initially in 2021, the newly renovated school facilities have been through several changes before construction began in earnest in May of 2024. Before construction began, there were both a failed and successful effort to approve a bond to fund the work, multiple community meetings, and alterations to the design and overall scope of the work.
Tobey thanked Wilkins Architecture, Design, Planning in Kearney and Hausmann Construction for their work on the project as well, saying, “You’ve been tremendous partners, supporters and friends throughout this entire process. Your professionalism and commitment helped turn drawings into a reality.”
The construction project has not been without its setbacks and issues. Early in the process, the school was the victim of the theft of nearly $1.8 million from the construction accounts due to fraud. After the ribbon cutting, School Board President Tom Osmond noted that nearly $700,000 of that was recovered shortly thereafter, and that the school continues to work with law enforcement and insurance to recover the remainder. Osmond indicated that the ongoing recovery activities are a constant, active process that will now take time to work through.
With enhanced facilities focused on both the fine arts and career and technical education, Osmond is excited about the opportunities that the school will be opening up to students. Osmond also stated a project like this doesn’t happen without a lot of support.
That support was on display and returned as Tobey continued to thank the School Board, staff, the many community members working behind the scenes to tell the school’s story and make sure the community stayed informed.
“Today we celebrate more than a grand opening,” said Tobey. “We celebrate a community that believes in kids. We celebrate excellence and we celebrate the future of Broken Bow. I cannot be more excited for our students, our staff, and our entire community. Thank you all for your unwavering support.”
With that, the ribbon was cut, cookies were eaten, and students returned to their work at the newly modernized Broken Bow Middle School/High School building.
