Stephens County — With chants of “Move that dirt,” the ground was broken Monday for the new Stephens County High School.

The Stephens County Board of Education, county leaders and all the students of the current high school gathered in the back of the school to break ground for the new building. Fifth-graders from nearby Big A Elementary School also were on hand to watch the beginning of the school they will one day attend.

“It’s a momentous occasion,” said Stephens County School Superintendent Gary Steppe. “Today we turned over a new chapter. When you think of the history and the tradition of this high school, and the excellence that happens here, it’s exciting to think of building a new high school that’s modern and sound and equipped for the 21st century.”

High School Principal David Friend also called the day exciting and urged the students present to make the most of their educational opportunities.

“When it gets down to it, education really is defined by the students themselves. A school is not defined by a building but by the students,” Friend said.

Not long after the school board ceremonially tossed dirt from shovels, a backhoe moved into place and dug into the grassy hill, moving the first of 400,000 yards of dirt that will be moved in the construction process. Students chanted “Move that dirt.”

The new school will be built directly behind the current building and is expected to take almost 2 years to complete. Then, after students move into it, the old school will be gutted, rebuilt and connected to the new building. The total estimated cost is $45 million.