The groundbreaking ceremony for a new Sycamore elementary school was held Nov. 27.

The new school is located in the new Sycamore Creek subdivision and is being built to accommodate Sycamore’s recent and future growth.

The location is an excellent place to build a new elementary school because most of the growth is occurring on the northern side of Sycamore, said Wayne Riesen, Sycamore schools superintendent.

The new school’s 15-square-acre site was donated by B&B Development Services in anticipation that a new school will be needed, Riesen said.

Construction has already started on the site; however, no concrete has been laid down yet, he said.

“We are all very excited because it is a culmination from the Sycamore community that came together to address the needs of the district,” said Kathy Countryman, assistant superintendent for personnel.

The school is expected to open in the fall of 2009, and at full capacity, it will accommodate 450 students from kindergarten through fifth grade. By the time of completion, the new school will be Sycamore School District’s fifth elementary school.

“We feel we have an overwhelming approval from the community in light with how well the community supported the referendum last year,” Countryman said.

Minor construction is currently ongoing at West, Southeast and North elementary schools as a part of the district’s facilities planning process, created in 2006 to deal with the upcoming growth of Sycamore.

“These smaller additions to these schools will open up next fall,” Riesen said. “This construction is going as well as expected. According to the construction manager, we are right on schedule.”