Surrounded by cheering staff, students and community members, the Wheaton school district officially broke ground Friday at the site for the new tornado shelter.

In 2016, the Wheaton taxpayers approved a $1 million bond issue for a FEMA shelter to be built on district property.

After the 2019 tornado that hit the Wheaton area, former Wheaton Superintendent Lance Massey said the district was lucky to not have been hit.

In February this year, the district was discussing FEMA dollars, and with a cost estimation from R.E. Smith the district’s construction management company, the entire project was estimated to be around $2.7 million.

The tornado shelter is being funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER III), the 2016 Bond Issue and some Fund 4 district funds.

Trish Wilson, Wheaton superintendent, said the district is wanting to keep the cost around that $2.7 million.

“Some bids came in higher than expected, but the district is working on some cost savings to keep it as close to the $2.7 million as possible,” she said. “The expected timeline has not changed. We hope to be doing our final punch list in July [2023].”

This tornado shelter will also house a new kitchen and will serve as the district’s new cafeteria.

FEMA funds won’t be used, but the facility will be FEMA rated.

Wilson said the structure is approximately 5,768 square feet and will meet International Code Council (ICC) 500 requirements and standards for Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, which will include missile impacts due to 250 mph winds. It will have a capacity of about 620 people.