Zion Lutheran breaks ground at site of new elementary school
The new school will replace the current facility, built in 1915
June 27, 2023Updated: June 27, 2023
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaPIERCE - Construction equipment fills the school bus pick-up lanes at Zion Lutheran Church in Pierce.
On Sunday, the congregation celebrated the groundbreaking of a new K-8 facility right next to the current school. The district announced a capital campaign last fall to build a new two-story, ten-classroom facility. Campaign officials say the current building, built in 1915, no longer fills the needs of the community.
"It served its purpose," says building committee co-chair Tami White. "The original school was probably two classrooms - one on the bottom and one on the top, with administration. We've grown so much. The future growth we'd like to see is one grade per classroom."
Zion Lutheran set a $6 million goal. It's a lofty mark for a small town, but the community has stepped up in a big way.
"It's interesting to see the positive response from the entire community," says Zion Lutheran Board of Education Chairman Brandon Hamilton. "Whether it's in Pierce or with local businesses, they've stepped up to support with pledges to this school in a pretty short amount of time."
The site of the new school will be special not just for what it will mean for the students, but what it represents for the congregation.
"What we're standing on is holy ground," said Rev. Gordon W. Bruce at the ceremony on Sunday. "It was here that the original Zion Lutheran Church was built. It was here that God's people for many decades heard God's word proclaimed."
The current building will eventually be demolished to make way for a new playground. The bell and original school sign will be preserved.
This small-town Nebraska school daring to dream big. It's a project that Zion Lutheran hopes can lift the community, whether their kids attend classes there or not.
"Whether you went to Zion or not you're still a part of the community," says White. "Everybody thinks of everyone from the community."
"We stood there Sunday thinking about my kids and seeing what's going on," said Hamilton. "I've got three kids in school, one of them about to be an eighth grader. She wondered 'Why would I come help support the school and help raise money, Dad?' It's because her children will be there someday."
Campaign officials say they hope to have the new facility ready for students sometime in the 2024-25 school year.