The rebuilding of South Junior High School has begun.

Construction crews began moving dirt Monday at 2734 La., where a new 120,000-square-foot facility will be built to replace the existing circular school.

The new $32 million building, scheduled to open for the 2007-2008 school year, will be attached to Broken Arrow School. The schools will share kitchen and cafeteria space.

“There are still a few heartaches and a little bit of heartburn involved, but now we’re seeing the actual project come up out of the ground and that’s the nicest part about it,” said Tom Bracciano, the district’s facilities and operations director. “We’ve been waiting a long time to replace this building.”

The project is funded by a $54 million school bond issue, which voters approved in April 2005.