SHERBURNE – The first phase of Sherburne-Earlville’s $25 million capital improvement project was approved by the State Education Department, clearing the way for construction to begin this summer.

According to Business Superintendent Thomas Strain, phase one makes up only about one fifth of the total project. “Phase one includes the construction of the band room at the elementary school, some other infrastructure items and work at the stadium to the concession stand,” he said.

The school will now be able to go out to bid for phase one, and Strain said they expect to break ground early this summer.

The S-E building project was approved by voters in December of 2007. The project calls for many improvements to the infrastructure, energy efficiency, security and capacity of the districts middle/high school building and elementary campus. The middle/high school is nearly 40 years old, while the elementary school was built approximately 13 years ago.