Following at least three years of obstacles, work has started on a new Sumter County High School.

Sumter County High in York and Livingston High will be eventually be consolidated.

School superintendent, Dr. Fred Primm, said the major final factor came when Sumter County commissioners recently approved a resolution that allowed the school board to refinance a bond to build the facility.

Primm says the refinancing will free up an additional $3 million, thus providing $15 million in all for the project.

"I think the measures that we took in 2006 has helped us in this process," said Primm. "What it has done is really put us ahead schedule by about 9 months."

The design was put together about three years ago. Within the last two weeks, Primm says preliminary ground work finally started.

"We anticipate having that done maybe by late July, hopefully, the first of August," said Primm. "Our goal is to break ground on the new school in August."

Located on Highway 11 between Livingston and York, Primm said the new school will sit on 80 acres of land.

"The building will probably be about 100 yards from the road," said Primm.

"Within the next few weeks an informational session will be held. During that session information will be offered to let local construction companies know what they need to do if they want to secure a main or subcontract for the project. A date for this session has not yet been set.

Primm said the school is expected to open in the fall of 2011.