MADISON – Machinery will soon start the site preparation for a new elementary school in Madison. The MCS school board approved awarding a bid for the grading work to Stanley Construction for about $1.1 million.

The $34 million elementary school will sit on 20 acres of land the school district already owns next to the Kroger on Wall Triana Highway. It will hold about 900 students.

“We believe it will serve our students really well,” Madison City Schools superintendent Robby Parker said. “It will help alleviate some of the overcrowding at Mill Creek and take in all of the West Madison students.”

Parker said the site work should begin by Nov. 1 with construction of the new school starting in 2020. He hopes to have it ready to open in 2021.

Once complete, West Madison’s campus will be renovated into the new Madison City Pre-K Center.

Voters overwhelming approved a 12-mill property tax increase in Madison and Triana for the school district last month. The special election was held to help the school district expand to meet the rising population. According to MCS leaders, the increase will be used to construct the elementary school, middle school ($49 million), high school additions ($18-$20 million), and $3.5 million for additional operational support, such as SROs, counselors, teachers and utilities.

School leaders recently traveled to New York City in an effort to get the best credit rating possible for the district as they begin to turn their election night win into a bond financing the construction of the new schools and additions. Chief Schools Financial Officer Jana Gray said the school district should know their credit rating by mid Oct. Once they get it they will be able to borrow the funds the district needs.

“We will receive those funds in mid-November and be able to build the schools that we need,” Gray explained.

“We’re very excited. This is moving very quickly,” Parker said.

Soon after construction begins on the new elementary school, the new middle school will also take shape. Expected to be complete by 2022, the new campus will be built on land the school district also owns behind the central office on Celtic Drive. It will hold 1,200 students in grades six to eight.