Many machines were used to move dirt to build up the ground where the additional classrooms will be built. The space needs to be made flat, level, and even with the rest of the building.

This machine made the building rattle more than anything else as it rolled back and forth. It compacts the dirt so it won't squish down later after the building is on top of it.

The area is nice and flat now, and you can see the new bus driveway behind the workers.

Strings are stretched over the ground where the walls of the new building will be built. Chalk lines are drawn under them to show the backhoe operator where to dig the trenches.

Trenches are dug deep in the ground for the bottom of the walls to be built. This bottom part is called the footer, part of the foundation.

Steel bars are put in the bottom of the trenches so that the concrete footers will be stronger.

Concrete from the truck goes down the chute to fill the bottom, making the footer around the steel bars.

The finished footer has rods sticking up to hold the walls in place.