(KLZA) -- The last day of school for Falls City Sacred Heart students culminated with the groundbreaking ceremony on a new $2.3 million activities center. The facility will be located on the northeast corner of the current school.

 Tony Ahern who served as Chairman of the Planning Committee said it was 2009 when the idea for the facility came up.  The past two years was spent deciding on the proper location and size to meet the various needs for the school.

Ahern explained the building will help solve with scheduling problems for basketball, and will serve as a lunch room and a weight room. The facility should be ready for use in time for the start of the 2015-16 school year. 

Sacred Heart Principal and Athletic Director Doug Goltz opened the festivities thanking those in attendance and those who donated to the project. Goltz called the facility a dream that is finally becoming a reality.

Longtime Superintendent, Monsignor Robert Roh made special mention of lifetime Sacred Heart supporter and committee member Ray Finck, calling him the sparkplug in the effort for the new facility.  Fincks wife Ruth, and three of his grandchildren who attend Sacred Heart School helped with the groundbreaking.

The Sacred Heart School opened in Falls City in 1890. Drought at grasshoppers caused the school to be closed for two years before re-opening for good in 1893. 

The main level of the new facility will be about 16,400 square feet, the mezzanine section will be about 2,400 square feet and seating for approximately 600 will be included with the possibility of holding around 1,000 when the upstairs is utilized.