The Fort Osage school board and its constituents had a pretty big wish list for its community and its construction partners when it put two ballot issues before voters last April.

Thursday morning, the first ceremonial shovels of dirt got turned for the big-ticket item — a new building for transportation, maintenance and administration.

“I’m so very proud of this district,” school board President Floyd Hawkins told a gathering of supporters under a giant shade tree.

“I want to thank the patrons of this district . . . for your trust through the years.”

Cicadas buzzed. Highway 24 traffic rushed. And a trio of heavy construction dozers waited in the blazing sun as district officials, supporters and construction team leaders with shovels marked the moment in white hard hats.

The $20 million bond issue and a 32-cent transfer between the district’s debt service and operating levies passed overwhelmingly in April, allowing the district to continue work on its master plan.

The new facility, which is being built directly east of Fire Prairie Upper Elementary School on the east edge of the district’s sprawling campus at Twyman Road and U.S. 24, is expected to open in the fall of 2022.

Other bond issue projects include renovating kitchen facilities and building various parking lot and driveway improvements.

The shift of funding from the debt service levy will help the district maintain competitive salaries for its staff and support ongoing programming as well as build a new gym and expand and renovate the band room at the high school.