OTSELIC VALLEY – A $17 million building project that will see the consolidation of the Otselic Valley Central School District Elementary and Junior-Senior High schools continues to move forward and officials are hoping to break ground on the project within a year.

According to OV Superintendent Richard Hughes, the project – approved by voters in September of 2011 – is a “fiscal no-brainer,” and will actually save taxpayers money in the long run.

The project will result in the OV Elementary School’s conversion into a transportation facility and community center in Georgetown, while the Junior-Senior High School will expand to serve students of all ages, grades K-12.

“We’re hoping to have the plans finalized and sent out to state education by the end of March,” said Hughes of the project, which officials have called a long-term solution to some of the district’s budget woes. “We should have those back by the end of April and we could actually begin prepping for the build in June, ahead of schedule ... we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

This year, as the district prepares for consolidation, the Junior-Senior High School welcomed its fifth and sixth grade students into the building, an age group that “lends an atmosphere of enthusiasm and inspiration to our program,” according to building principal Daniel Henner. Hughes agreed with that assessment and said the students have “brought a different energy” to the building.