Kearney Public Schools Open New Building

By: Kim Eiten - Email

Updated: Fri 10:49 PM, Sep 14, 2012

"It's really given us a step in terms of the future for our children." -Associate Superintendent Carol Renner

A new elementary school in Kearney opened its doors to students for the first time this fall.

Associate Superintendent Carol Renner said the newest school, Buffalo Hills Elementary, is just one step in a district wide push toward state of the art facilities for students.

"It's opening doors to children, a beautiful new facility that has the capacity to really give kids all the skills that they'll need when they face the 21st century opportunities open to them," Renner said.

For Kearney Public Schools, giving students those opportunities meant eliminating overcrowding which was a problem in the past.

"With that new building opening, we have been able to achieve the goal of reducing class size in our other buildings and expanding where there is growth in our community," Renner said.

Buffalo Hills Principal Chelsea Feusner said it's a key to better education.

"Teachers can really differentiate and work one on one to meet the needs of students in the classroom," Feusner said.

She said students, parents and the community are excited about the change and all the school has to offer.

"I think there's just a sense of awe with not only the newness of the facility, but also the technology we have to offer within the classrooms," Feusner said.

Renner said it all comes back to continued improvement in the school system.

"It has really built the capacity to do better at teaching in our schools," she said.

And, it means more opportunities for students.

"It's really given us a step in terms of the future for our children," Renner said.

Buffalo Hills is the final project to be completed in a series of five remodels and the construction of two new facilities.

Renner called it the culmination of the bond issue passed in 2009 which helped fund the projects.