Oct. 7 marked the beginning of a new era for Russellville City Schools as the iconic white columns in front of Russellville High School were removed and excitement for the future rose from the rubble.

Construction officially began for the new high school building as members from the board of education, city council and community members joined together to break ground on the new main high school building.

“We are so excited for this and all that is to come with it,” said RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes. “We know this area will hold many new memories.”

Construction will take place in between the cafeteria and library, with the existing courtyard blocked off for safety reasons.

Construction on the new main building is Phase One of a two-part plan to add to the high school. Construction for Phase One has a 465-day contract, putting completion in December 2021.

RHS Principal Jason Goodwin said he is excited to see what the future holds for RCS with so many new projects in the future.

“This is going to be big for the school and for the students,” Goodwin said.

All construction will occur on the northern end of campus to connect the library to the cafeteria with a 40-foot building that will be two stories tall.

The new building will house the main office, EL Department, Special Education Department, various Career Tech classes and the science department.

The current high school office will become the new home for the RCS technology department, and the current science building will hold the history classes that currently behind the auditorium.

Phase 2 will be a complete revamp of the Career Tech Center.

Once Phase 1 is complete, Grimes said a lot of the Career Tech classes will move to the new building while construction begins on the current Career Tech Department.

Phase 2 is expected to end at the end of 2022, and Grimes said after it is completed, all departments will move to their official new homes.