ELLSWORTH – With bright blue skies, a blazing sun and temperatures in the 60s, Ellsworth Community School District officials, staff, and community members gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, March 10 celebrating the new Ellsworth High School addition and Ellsworth Middle School renovation.

Voters passed a $25 million facilities referendum in April 2024, which includes $8.5 million toward a career and technical education addition for tech ed, agriculture, family and consumer sciences and business programs; $3.8 million for a health and physical education center at the high school, $3.435 million for high school systems upgrades (HVAC, plumbing, boiler and electrical), $1.7 million for a new secure entrance and lobby/concessions, and $8 million at the middle school for enhanced safety and security in each grade wing, upgrading systems that have not been touched since the school was built in the mid-1990s, and revamped collaborative learning spaces.

Supt. Brian Nadeau kicked off the festivities by welcoming everyone to the “ceremonial kickoff of this game-changing project” and thanking the community for supporting the district and referendum.

“Ellsworth High School is the shiny crown jewel of this project, but there will be a lot of work going on at the middle school as well,” he said.

The project is set to be completed this fall, nearly a year ahead of the original timeline, which Nadeau said is a great benefit to the district and community. The work has already started, evidenced by the large excavators behind the high school.

“A lot of work has gone into the timing and development of this project, with Barry Cain (former superintendent who retired in June) leading the charge. Once it’s done, you can stop looking over my shoulder,” Nadeau joked to Cain, who was in attendance.

Ellsworth High School Principal Oran Nehls thanked the community for passing the referendum.

“This is a great opportunity to build partnerships with businesses in the community and reignite new opportunities,” Nehls said.

He lauded the new student-led enterprises in the works, such as a coffee roasting operation, a new greenhouse, new classes offered, a weight room that will rival any in the Middle Border Conference, and a technology department with more welding booths, mills and lathes, robotic arms and Programmable Logic Controller workstations.

“Seniors have already told me they’re upset that they’re missing out, but you’ll have that in a transition like this,” Nehls said.

Ellsworth Middle School Principal Olin Morrison described the renovations at EMS as a “tremendous bang for your buck.”

“It’s a relatively small investment, as far as referendums go, though certainly not small, but it will appear to be almost a brand-new middle school,” Morrison said. “It will make a significant impact for years to come.”

Village President Becky Beissel said the project is an exciting investment in Ellsworth’s future.

“These updates will provide students with hands-on, real-world learning experiences that align with the needs of today’s workforce,” she said. “As a community, we’re proud to support opportunities that prepare our young people for success, whether they choose to pursue a trade, higher education, or join our local industries. This project reflects our commitment to growing a skilled, innovative, and resilient community.”