HUMPHREY, Neb. — Residents of Humphrey gathered with anticipation at a public open house showcasing the future of St. Francis Elementary and its expansion. The project aims to address the school's pressing needs and introduce modern amenities.

School officials emphasized that the current gymnasium is approximately 60 years old, while the three-story elementary building, estimated to be 118 years old, suffers from an outdated structure that cannot accommodate modern technology.

"There's one set of bathrooms in the basement for all 179 children," noted Deb Herchenbach, co-chair of the St. Francis Elementary building committee. "Additionally, stairways pose a challenge for children in wheelchairs or on crutches, as the school is not ADA compliant." The school also cited issues with lighting, storage, and heating and air conditioning systems.

Herchenbach highlighted the $25 million updates, including a new gymnasium with a capacity of 1,200. "In the elementary building, we have a gym at the top, referred to as our practice gym," Herchenbach explained. "That building will eventually come down. So, we will have to replace that gym space with a new one."

With challenges such as outdated technology, lighting, and accessibility issues, the school faces limitations in boosting attendance, particularly with kindergarten classes capped at 27 students. "The preschool is full," Herchenbach stated. "Our daycare is full with a waiting list of 85 children. We've also looked at baptismal records. All of those things point to increasing enrollment in our school. And so we are building the school with that in mind, truly building for the future."