Lawrence school district officials will host a kickoff celebration Saturday to mark the start of districtwide construction and renovation projects that are being funded with the recent $92.5 million bond issue.

Of that money, $84.1 million is going toward renovations and expansions at the district’s 14 elementary schools and two high schools. The package also includes construction of a new College and Career Center for vocational and technical education, which is scheduled to open in 2015 near 31st Street and Haskell Avenue.

The Lawrence school board put the bond issue on the ballot in the April 2013 municipal election after first considering, then rejecting, earlier proposals to close and consolidate some of the older elementary schools in central and east Lawrence.

Voters approved the bond proposal, 72 percent to 28 percent.

Much of the construction money will focus on the older buildings in central and east Lawrence to bring those facilities up to the same standards as the newer buildings and to expand some buildings in order to eliminate the use of mobile buildings as temporary classrooms.

Some construction and renovation are also planned at Lawrence High School and Free State High School.

The kickoff event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sunset Hill Elementary, 901 Schwarz Road.