The Department of Defense has awarded the Geary County school district $16 million for construction of a new elementary school at Fort Riley.

The Geary County district maintains buildings on the northeast Kansas Army post. The grant announced Monday is for a 500-student school that will relieve overcrowding and improve facility conditions.

Fort Riley was placed on a priority list for new school funding in 2011, in part because of the increased number of soldiers and families assigned to the post since 2006.