Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The 304 kids who attend Owen Marsh Elementary School were excited about the groundbreaking ceremony for their new school which happened Tuesday morning.

Several dignitaries were on hand with golden shovels at the ready to signal the start of construction on the 55,000 square-foot facility.

Principal Wendy Conaway said the kids had an active hand in the design process and they got a lot of nice things, including a full gymnasium and a lunchroom.

She says, however, they didn’t get the indoor water park they wanted or the giant slide from the 2nd floor to the first.

Mayor Misty Buscher says it’s all due to the 1% sales tax increase voters approved. She says its paid for improvements, upgrades and new construction at the three area high schools as well as several grade schools. She says there is no sunset on the tax increase, so she is looking forward to other schools getting their much-needed face-lifts. She says Hazel Dell is slated next.

Mike O’Shea with O’Shea Builders told the assembled audience that his own father built the first Owen Marsh school.

His operations manager, Max Dirker, said The Frogs will have their new pad by August of 2026.