Grand Forks AFB breaks ground on new Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School Published June 12, 2026 By Airman 1st Class Nailah Pacheco 319th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School June 12, 2026, here. The construction-industry tradition of groundbreaking commemorates the start of construction and highlights the impact the project brings to the community. The $74.5 million school is scheduled to open in August of 2028 and will replace the existing Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School. The approximately 110,000 square-foot facility will feature 22 classrooms and provide modern learning spaces with focuses on fine arts and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. “This School will be more than a building,” said Dr. Terry Brenner, superintendent of Grand Forks Public Schools. “It will serve as a daily reminder that when local, state and federal partners work together toward a common purpose, extraordinary things can happen.” During the ceremony, Col. Bishane Whitmore, deputy commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, emphasized the role education plays in supporting military families and mission readiness. “Education is not a luxury, it’s a strategic imperative,” said Whitmore. “When our Airmen know that their children are safe, supported and learning in a world-class environment, they can focus on the mission. They can deter aggression, they can defend the homeland and they can win when decisively called upon.” The project is funded in part by an approximately $59.7 million Public Schools on Military Installations grant through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. The PSMI program is designed to respond to condition and capacity deficiencies at schools identified on the Deputy Secretary of War’s priority list and helps to address local family life needs. “Projects like this do not happen by accident; they take a commitment, a vision, a partnership,” said Chad Kurtyka, principal of Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School. “Today is a celebration of progress and possibility.” Former Nathan Twining School student, Logan Vorheis, also spoke about the impact the new facility will have on future generations of students at Grand Forks AFB. “Military-connected students are accustomed to entering new environments, but we should not have to compromise the quality of those environments,” Vorheis said. “We deserve facilities that reflect the strength, commitment and resilience of the community around us.” The new school will expand student capacity to 500 children and offer education for students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade.