.jpg)
LAUREL — It was years in the making, but the expansion and update of the Laurrel- Concord-Coleridge School facility are now complete and area residents were invited to the school last week to help celebrate the occassion.
The dedication ceremony and open house began with remarks in the main gymnasium.
Supt. Jeremy Christiansen opened the program.
“Today, we officially dedicate and celebrate the completion of our newly renovated and constructed school facilities—a milestone that reflects years of vision, planning, partnership, and perseverance,” he said.
Christiansen said the project has transformed the Laurel campus with over 85,000 square feet of modern learning spaces, including new science and vocational classrooms, a state-of-the art kitchen and servery options, bright, spacious classrooms for learning, commons that provide gathering and event spaces for students and community alike, plus a relocated school/ community fitness center, and a secure, multipurpose storm shelter.
Christiansen said the project also honors the past, “with the thoughtful transition from the 1922 high school building to this next chapter of education in our school district.”
This project could not have happened without great community support, he said.
“We are grateful for the support of our community, staff, students, school board, and all who contributed to making this vision a reality,” he said.
Elementary School student Hadley Nordby, Middle School student James Recob and high school student Kolten Settje also addressed the crowd.
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Board of Education President Jay Hall also addressed the audience.
Christiansen said the Board’s leadership made this project possible.
On behalf of the LCC School faculty, staff, and students, as well as our community stakeholders, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Laurel-Concord- Coleridge Board of Education, both present and past, for their leadership throughout this project,” he said. “Your vision, commitment, and careful oversight helped guide this complex process from initial planning to completion. You never lost sight of the goal—to create safe, modern, and inspiring spaces where students can learn and grow. On behalf of the entire district and community, thank you for your dedication to the future of LCC School.”
The project’s architect and the construction firm in charge of the project also deserve recognition, Christiansen said.
“As we recognize the many contributors to this project, we want to give special thanks to two of our primary partners who were with us every step of the way—Carlson West Povondra Architects and Hausmann Construction,” he said. “CWP has a long and respected history of working with schools across northeast Nebraska, and their thoughtful design helped us create learning spaces that are both functional and inspiring. We thank Bob Soukup, Mike Thomazin, and Kay Schwartz for bringing creativity, patience, and vision to the table—along with lots of floorplans, renderings, and reworkings of square footage. And of course, a huge thank you to Hausmann Construction. Their team brought these designs to life—one beam, one brick, and one construction trailer at a time.The leadership and support of Steve Thiele, John Wieser, Ashley Abramson and their team have been invaluable.”
Christiansen also took time to recognize the construction project superintendnet, Scott Johnson.
“He has been on-site so long he truly became part of the LCC family,” Christiansen said. “For nearly three years, Scott was everywhere— answering questions, solving problems, and reminding us (with a straight face) that ‘yes, it’s supposed to look like that.’ We’re grateful to Scott and the entire crew for their commitment, their craftsmanship, and for putting up with our endless questions about timelines.”
Several community members were also key in making the project happen, Christiansen said.
“We must also recognize our key stakeholders and community members, including those who served on the community focus, design, campaign, and accountability committees, providing guidance and feedback every step of the way. This building stands as a testament to what can be achieved when an entire school community comes together with a shared vision and a commitment to future generations. We thank you all for being part of this journey.”
The construction project also included the construction of a greenhouse on school grounds.
“This space stands out not only because of what it adds to our educational programming, but because it was made possible entirely through the generosity of donors,” Christiansen said. “We extend our deepest gratitude to the families, individuals, organizations, and businesses who believed in the value of hands-on, future-focused learning and stepped forward to support it.
Christiansen also gave a big nod of appreciation to the Ernest “Ernie” Swanson family—Lyla, Regg, and Lon and Ann Scholl—and the Doc and Sandy Chace family for their major contributions.
“Their generosity helped bring this vision to life, and we are so proud to honor their legacy through a facility that will serve generations of students,” he said. “The greenhouse is a game-changer for our agriculture education program and FFA chapter. It will give our students real-world, practical experience in plant science, production, and sustainability—skills that are at the heart of our rural community and economy.
He noted its benefits go far beyond agriculture as science classes will use it for experiments and environmental studies. Elementary students will get their hands in the soil and learn where their food comes from and the nutrition services team will explore ways to integrate fresh, studentgrown produce into meals and lessons about healthy eating.
“This space reflects the values of our district—innovation, hands-on learning, and strong community support. To everyone who contributed to the greenhouse, thank you for believing in the power of education and the potential of our students,” Christiansen said.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Laurel Chamber Community Club held a ribbon-cutting celebration led by Co-Presidents, Craig Gutz and Dan Kuhlman to mark the official opening of the new school facility.
