The new Support Services Building at 625 East 10th St. will soon be operational, Great Bend USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton told the school board on Thursday.

The building, formerly owned by Central Power Systems & Services, was purchased in 2022 and will house USD 428’s Central Kitchen, Transportation and Maintenance operations.

The construction manager was scheduled to make the punch list on Friday. With the water being turned on Friday and the sewer hooked up, the building is almost ready to occupy.

“The Central Kitchen (at 2201 Broadway Ave.) is very bare right now and will be closed next week,” Thexton said. Food Services Director Kristy Alvord spent $920,000 out of her budget for equipment, Thexton said. The services will move into the new location next week and should be ready to resume offering summer meals on Monday, July 10.

Andrea Bauer, public information director for the school district, said there will be a couple of opportunities for the public to visit the new facility this summer.

“We’re planning a job fair for Support Services on July 19,” she said. This will let people see the building as they learn about job openings in the various departments. “If you’re curious, we might just keep you.”

The district also plans to have an open house and Great Bend Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting in mid-August.