Wichita Public Schools began construction on its $7.6 million Martin Ortiz Elementary School after a ceremonial groundbreaking today at the site of the new school.
John Ortiz, a sibling of Martin Ortiz, spoke on behalf of the family. At the end of the ceremony, student ambassadors from nearby elementary schools and guests officially "broke ground" with golden shovels.
The school is scheduled to be ready for students at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. The new 62,000 square-foot school is designed to address growth in the area. It will accommodate 450 kindergarten-through fifth-grade students and will have a computer lab, two music rooms, an art room, a multipurpose room and will contain many environmentally friendly features.
