BURT COUNTY -- A northeast Nebraska school building older than the titanic has been in need of a makeover for decades. In this economy, in a small town, in northeast Nebraska -- it's no easy feat. But despite challenges and opposition, Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools signed up for the task, as of last week.

Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools officially passed the $21.5 million dollar bond issue to completely replace the three-story building from 1907 Wednesday night, plus add upgrades like locker rooms to other facilities. They announced it in a school assembly in the gym, Thursday. 

"Everbody was excited, people were crying, it meant a lot to us," sophomore Sierra Heckenlaible said. While she personally plans to become a veterinarian out of state one day, she said she hopes the expansion will set her hometown up for success. "My grandpa came to school here in this very school so it makes me really excited," fifth-grader Carsyn Miller said. He's most eager for the new gym, in order to wrestle more. 

The school of nearly 280 relieved students will see new classrooms for pre-K through 6th graders, as well as a new gym, cafeteria, and lockers.

"Now that we have our gym we'll be able to fit our eight teams into practicing facilities," said sophomore Camryn Brehmer. Until a new gym is created, her team has had to travel to Bancroft for half of their practices. "We can host a lot more tournaments which can help with tourism," said fourth-grader Meika Maryot. 

Perhaps most importantly, it will make the school safer. Major logistical upgrades will be addressed, such as replacing dangerous stairs, leaking ceilings, and heating systems.

"Just in my office alone this is covered in hot pipes," said secondary principal Weston Swanson, who's also excited to see the makeover improve teacher retention.

"When they're on during the winter sometimes kids will touch them and get burnt," another fourth-grader said as her friend chimed in, "I rested my hand on it once and I have a burn there." 

Besides being dangerous, the heating system is unreliable at Lyons-Decatur. "It's not good for a learning environment, you're sweating all day [...] we have windows open in the middle of winter to counteract these heaters," Swanson continued. 

Superintendent Lindsay Beaudette was hired last year with the purpose of getting this makeover accomplished. Though much needed, she said getting votes wasn't as easy as ABCs nor 123s.

"I would say there was pushback, there are people who -- it obviously costs a lot of money [$21.5 million] and taxes are going to go up and so we understand that but we're happy they chose to invest in the school," Beaudette said. 

Another hesitation is the fact that a 115-year-old building has a lot of memories.

"Talking to architects early on -- they'll find ways to save [pieces of this building]," Swanson said. Items like dated bricks can be incorporated into the new building. 

The project is in the design phase now by Clark and Enerson out of Lincoln. The construction should start in the fall by Boyd Jones, with a goal to finish it in two years. 

"It's good for our small town to be able to grow [...] Everybody is a family here," Brehmer said. 

"I'm really excited for the kids, and the handicap accessibility, bringing everything up to ADA compliance," Beaudette said.