The land sits between Flanders Mill and Cottonwood off Durston. It's empty now but after voters approved a $26.375 million bond, part of it is set to become home of Bozeman's eighth elementary.
School officials say it couldn't come soon enough.
"We're at capacity in the elementary district...All seven of our elementary schools are full now and so, we're going to grow about 400 students over capacity before we're able to open in August of 2014, elementary number eight so, it was absolutely essential," says Bozeman School Superintendent Kirk Miller.
Yet, the new school only accounts for $20 million of the bond.
Some of that money will go towards providing Longfellow Elementary with much needed mechanical upgrades such as, a fresh air system.
"Better air quality inside improves the education space and all the other schools have had it done to them and we do that with new schools so, Longfellow deserves it," says Bozeman Schools Facilities Director Kevin Barre.
The bond is also set to fund expansion of the Support Services Facility, which houses the district's central kitchen.
"If we build, continue to build and grow and our central kitchen is not expanded to keep up with that then it's going to impact the lunch program, they may have to cut back on the types of products and things that they provide so, again, it goes back to keeping the education environment at a high level and by expanding we're able to do that," says Barre.
Voters also said "yes" to the district's Elementary General Fund Operating Levy, an annual election that allows the district to maximize state funding.
"That $235,000 is going to help us with six new teachers, the classroom equipment and the books and all of that is necessary so, in the big picture, that's every bit as important as the bond was," says Miller.
Officials say they're grateful the community recognizes the district's needs.
"As long as we continue to do an outstanding job at Bozeman Public schools which, that's our full intention, then we're part of the economic development of the greater Gallatin area and we see that very clearly this vote for a new school and support of a general fund operating levy as an endorsement of that and so, thank you," says Miller.
