Elgin Public Schools Expands Campus With Greenhouse

An 18' x 24' greenhouse in process of construction. The Elgin FFA and Ag Ed departments will use the greenhouse for educational purposes and FFA spring plant sales. Vegetables will be grown for the lunch programs at Elgin Public and Pope John schools as well as for the local senior center.

The Elgin Public Schools Board of Education allowed Mrs. Schwartz and the Elgin Public FFA chapter to dream big this spring. 

They have done just that with the construction of the new greenhouse south of the gym building. 

The Board of Education matched funds raised by the Elgin Public FFA chapter up to $10,000.  The FFA raised money in part through funds from the FFA chapter’s previous plant sales, the Nebraska “I Believe in the Future of Ag Campaign”, a grant in early 2015 from Farm Credit Services of America for $2,000 and a grant of $5,000 from the Elgin Area Community Foundation last July.  

Elgin Pope John also contributed $3,000 from a JOBS grant as well.

Superintendent Dan Polk said, ""The Board of Education is very supportive of its students and activity groups here in Elgin."  

In addition to the matching funds, the cost of the concrete, construction of the greenhouse and the electrical upgrade to the shop with the addition of heaters was also taken care of by the board of education. 

"It also allows us to move the smaller greenhouse that was supporting those things to near the elementary as to benefit their science studies and experimenting possibilities," Polk said,

The FFA chapter will utilize it the most but the science department and other instructional areas can utilize it as well. The old greenhouse will also be moved so the elementary can have a basic structure to use for any of their science or plant projects as well.

"This greenhouse will allow a productive and learning experience program of plant cultivation and sales to continue and expand, as well as open up other academic areas to experiments and projects requiring such a facility," Polk said. "The adding of the irrigation system next year will even further expand the capabilities of the FFA plant projects as well as other possible academia uses."