Mike McNeff, superintendent of the Rugby school district, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for a project at Ely Elementary.

RUGBY — Rugby Public School celebrated with an official groundbreaking this week for upgrades and additions to the district’s Ely Elementary.

Voters approved a $7.8 million bond referendum in 2021 that funded the expansion and renovation, which will be able to serve more than 350 students. The total area of the existing building is about 38,000 square feet. The addition will be approximately 17,200 square feet and will include classrooms, common spaces, a regulation-size gymnasium, kitchen, and cafeteria. An additional mezzanine above the kitchen and commons will add another 43,000 square feet. Bus and traffic areas will also be reconfigured for safety. Renovations will allow for two classrooms per grade, a science, technology, engineering and mathematics lab, large and small group instruction areas, and better technology areas.

Work on the project is scheduled to be completed by August 2023.

Consolidated Construction Company and Zerr Berg Architects Inc., are working on the project.