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Catholic High School officials broke ground Saturday on the first phase of a $28 million renovation that will take place over the next year and a half.

Parents, teachers, students and donors attended the groundbreaking and auction Saturday at Dowling Catholic High School, 1400 Buffalo Road in West Des Moines.

Guests viewed renderings for the project that will begin in earnest when the school year ends and continue until December 2009.

"It's about being competitive and making sure the kids have all the technological advantages available," said Steve Lacy, co-chair of the We Believe Capital Campaign. "The education is in good shape, but adding these additional tools will take it to another level."

The project includes the construction of a new science wing and additional spaces for the performing and fine arts and physical education. The media center, student services areas and classrooms will be completely renovated and new state-of-the-art technology will be installed in each classroom.

So far, the campaign has secured nearly 81 percent of the $17 million it will cost for phase one. Lacy said they will continue working until all the money for the project is raised.

Ryan Trout, a junior at Dowling Catholic, gave a student's perspective on the project before 10 shovels and one backhoe dug the first holes in the ground.

"It's more than just a blueprint now; it's real and it's happening," he told the crowd.

Trout has been corresponding with capital campaign personnel as Dowling Catholic's student council recording secretary. He has offered his input, along with that of other students, as plans have progressed.

"Since we're in the 21st century and we see all these technological changes, our school hasn't really changed in itself since 1972, when it was built, and this definitely is a needed change," he said.

Eventually, the entire school will be gutted from wall to wall, but additions will be built beforehand to allow for classroom instruction to continue.

Students, teachers and parents have already gotten a small taste of what their state-of-the-art school will include. One smart classroom, equipped with laptops, a surround-sound system, innovative lighting and an interactive Smart Board that allows teachers to project the Internet on the wall, has already been established in the school.

It's serving as a demo to help visualize what every classroom will be like after the construction is complete. It is also being used throughout the school day by various classes.

Jeff Ferguson, a Dowling Catholic social studies teacher, has already noticed the difference.

"It gives us more options to address the learning abilities of kids," said Ferguson. "Teachers like to think they're experts, but when it comes to some of this technology, the kids are a lot smarter than I am."