Ceremonial groundbreaking launches new era for Cedar Rapids school district

About 100 people were on hand to witness the Cedar Rapids school district's groundbreaking for its new District Services Campus this afternoon.

Cameras clicked, capturing the ceremonial moment that signifies a new beginning for the Cedar Rapids school district.

“This is a great day for us,” Superintendent Dave Benson said.

The facility, to be built at 2418 Edgewood Road NW, will house all district support services - administration, transportation, buildings and grounds, warehouse and purchasing, printing and graphics, and food and nutrition - replacing facilities that were damaged in the June 2008 flood.

Standing in close proximity the district's transportation center, which will soon be razed in preparation for the new facility, Benson called the 161,000-square-foot facility a flood solution for the district.

“We are on the rebound and we are excited about what we're going to do,” Benson said.

Board members unanimously voted to build the new facility on district-owned property in November.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover $12.46 million of the project's a $44.5 million dollar price tag. The remaining amount will be paid for with the district's school infrastructure local-option sales tax money.

“It's a step forward in our recovery,” said Melissa Kiliper-Ernst, school board president. “Long term, I think it's going to be a really good investment for us.”

Construction begins next month.