Salina USD 305 celebrated the beginning of constructions season for its bond projects Monday morning. Officials and students ceremonially broke ground at Coronado Elementary School.

Salina voters approved a $110.7 million bond issue in April 2014. The bond addresses district needs including safety and security, all-day Kindergarten, career and technical education and improvements at both high schools.

The four elementary buildings in will receive new kindergarten rooms, multi-purpose storm shelters and controlled entryways. Additional changes include:

· Coronado: renovations to special services areas, replace displaced classrooms and additional parking

· Cottonwood: replace displaced classrooms and additional parking

· Meadowlark Ridge: replace displaced classrooms

· Oakdale: replace displaced classrooms and additional parking

Changes to Lakewood Middle School include a multi-purpose storm shelter and controlled entry. All building projects will have secondary needs identified which will be addressed only if the budget permits.

The biggest project is at Salina South High School. It is schedueld to begin this summer. South High School’s structural issues will be addressed in addition to these design features:

• Controlled entryway with new administration area
• 42 new general classrooms
• New science classrooms/labs
• New Career and Technical Education (CTE) program spaces
• New art area
• New media center
• Renovations to culinary arts department
• New commons/cafeteria
• New auxiliary gym built as a storm shelter
• Renovated athletics areas (including swimming pool)

A similar groundbreaking is scheduled for Wednesday at Oakdale Elementary School.