BOSCOBEL, Wis. (WRCO/WRCE) – The Boscobel Area School District held a groundbreaking ceremony for the beginning of the construction of additions to its main school building.

The entire school district’s student body, as well as community members and stakeholders, attended the event on Thursday in the Boscobel High School gym.

In April of 2023, voters in the district approved a $21.5 million referendum to add an elementary school wing, a 1,200-seat gymnasium, and secure entryways, among other projects.

Superintendent Lisa Wallin-Kapinus expressed gratitude for all of the people who helped in the referendum process.

“We are grateful to everyone who voted and for the community support and commitment to this school district,” Wallin-Kapinus said.

District voters narrowly approved the referendum last year following weeks of public meetings and hearings, as well as a district-wide survey on priorities for a potential referendum.

The construction taking place in the next year is part of a “long-term phased approach” to take care of district needs, Wallin-Kapinus said at the ceremony.

In addition to the new elementary school classrooms, which will primarily serve 4th and 5th grade, and the new gym, the district is also moving its administrative offices to the main school building. Because of the expansions, the current high school baseball field will be removed.

Part of the referendum will update the ball diamonds at neighboring Kronshage Park, where the school’s varsity softball team competes, with new dugouts and press boxes, as well as renovations to turn one of the diamonds into a regulation high school baseball field.

Construction begins in earnest on May 13. Equipment for the project has been on-site for nearly a month already as crews prep for the work that will be done between now and the time the new additions are opened in the fall of 2025.

The groundbreaking ceremony was moved indoors due to weather. A short outdoor photo-op was held after the main assembly.