Construction has started on the new North Vista Elementary School in Florence.
It will be the largest elementary school in Florence School District One at 108,000 square feet and will be able house more than 1,200 students.
The school is being built behind the current one on North Irby Street and is expected to be finished next fall.
North Vista was originally built in the 1950's and district administrators say it was time for a new school.
In the current school, the ceilings are damaged, some floors are cracked, tile on the wall has crumbled, and those are just some of the problems, according to some school board members.
"Just the fact that North Vista has been around the 1950's era school, but yes, it needed to be replaced along with others. But the progress has been very good," said Assistant Superintendent Lionel Brown.
The new new North Vista school is estimated to cost around $17 million.
Brown says the district will build three elementary schools and a middle school by 2014.
He says all the new schools will be paid for when finished.
