BROKEN BOW, Neb. – Month 14 of the Broken Bow middle school and high school construction project is underway, and the transformation is touching every corner of the school from reimagined spaces to completely brand new areas.
View recent pictures from inside the school at the end of this story
Broken Bow Superintendent Darren Tobey indicated that ‘Phase 1’ of the project is nearly completed, seeing the former middle school be completely renovated into a fine arts center. Upstairs, the building features completed band and choir classrooms as well as individual solo and practice rooms. Downstairs still features classrooms, which are across the hall from the renovated and state-of-the-art auditorium that is very close to being ready for student performers.
When KCNI/KBBN spoke to Tobey late last week, the sanding and painting of the floor and arrival of over 500 theater seats was imminent.
“I’m excited that we have included new updates while weaving parts of the older building into the new fine arts building,” said Tobey.
The very heart of the Broken Bow schools campus has gotten what Tobey calls a ‘major glow-up’. The new main entrance, administration offices, and commons area are about 95% finished, with only the HVAC system left to bring online. The space will become the daily front door to Broken Bow Public Schools after updates that Tobey says aren’t just about aesthetics but are about safety and functionality as well.
The 20,000 square foot Career and Technical Education (CTE) center certainly catches the eye of the passerby, also close to completion. Only electrical tasks stand between the opening expected in August. Programs housed in the CTE center include welding, automotive, agriculture, nutrition, and more. A car lift was recently installed in the automotive area, the welding booths stand ready to educate, and even some woodworking machines have arrived.
Inside the high school, walls are coming down as the central part of the building is transforming to make room for four science classrooms and two fully equipped lab spaces. The old music and wood shop areas are being reimagined as brand new high school locker rooms, expected to be complete in early fall.
On the athletic side of the renovation, the gym is getting a major upgrade with new bleachers arriving in early July with the goal of hosting students, teams, and the community for athletic events by mid-August. The gym floor was being painted during a KCNI/KBBN visit to the school last week.
Outside, anyone going by the school can see that the entire exterior of the building has been updated with a unified paint scheme to tie all of the buildings together. Tobey said the polished, professional look aims to show a school that looks as impressive as the students and community it serves.
“This project has been stressful, and hectic at times, but incredibly rewarding,” said Tobey, “It’s been amazing to watch this unfold and know how much our staff, students, and community will benefit. We are building something that truly competes with any school in the state- and it’s happening right here in Broken Bow.”
Tobey said the excitement heading toward August is contagious and that the school can’t wait to welcome the community into the new spaces, adding that the project is a reflection of a community that believes in its kids, its schools, and its future.
