U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, and U.S. Reps. Tim Huelskamp and Lynn Jenkins, all of Kansas, rallied around approval of a $35.2 million federal grant to build a new middle school at Fort Riley.
The grant was awarded as part of the Department of Defense Installations and Environment fund, according to a release from Roberts’ office.

The Geary County school district will match a portion of the funding, $6.7 million, for a total of $41.9 million to demolish and build the new middle school on post.

The school’s groundbreaking is expected Jan. 22 with doors opening in 2014. The school will hold roughly 700 students.

“Last year, I toured the school, and it was clear it was in need of modernization and we had to address the overcrowding,” Roberts said. “Men and women in uniform who protect and defend our nation, should not have to worry about the quality of the schools where they send their children,” he said.