NORFOLK, Neb. -- In February 2023, Lindsay Academy students faced an unexpected challenge as they had to adapt to makeshift classrooms in a workshop. Now, the wait is over. For the first time, they held classes in their brand-new building and gave News Channel Nebraska an exclusive look inside.

“Today was really the community working together," said Shelley Reichmuth, Lindsay Academy School Board President. "The community was committed to keeping a junior and senior high school within the town. We also were very focused on making sure that it was a faith centered school as well, and so today was just the finale of seeing that all come together with the students, the parents, and the people who've been involved in the process.”

With an estimated cost of $6.1 million, a good portion of profits was brought in by the community and will also allow public access for a library. To help see the project completed, the school was some given grants that would offset some costs from the public. 

Lindsay Academy also spoke on the uniqueness of having smaller classes of eight to 12 students saying, “With those small class sizes, we are creating opportunities to get to know the kids and individualize their education to the point of whatever they want to do when they leave here. We can help set that up. We will also have family consumer science teacher on staff now and the fact that we are going to be adding our own FFA program. So those are all things where we look to have some independence and to help to develop the programs for the students and also working in collaboration with the local community colleges to work for college readiness and have some college class opportunities for the students as well.”

While the school was being built, school wasn’t exactly normal considering classes took place in a Lindsay residents Machine shed, but despite the hiccup, student freshman Hallie and Callista said, “Learning in a shed was a really good experience. There's definitely excitement built up. It's cool. It's a new experience. It's good to be back in the building again. But yeah, we had a really good experience in the shed, so it's fun. It's good to be back.”

Lindsay Academy said this will not only be a place for students to learn, but to explore their faith in a supportive, inclusive and academically challenging environment.

Construction continues to be underway by Lindsay Area Development, a local economic development group, for a $14.5 million Event and Wellness Center that will be adjacent to the new school building. These facilities will provide public access to a fitness center, meeting rooms, gymnasium, stage for performing arts, event center, indoor walking track and other amenities not currently available to Lindsay residents. This project is to be completed in two phases with the fitness center, meeting rooms, gymnasium and walking track ready around August of 2024 with the 2nd phase with the stage and event center completed by December of 2025.