Construction has begun on the Hutto ISD's sixth elementary school and an official groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for May 15.

Norman Elementary—named after Howard Norman, one of Hutto's original settlers— will be located in the Riverwalk subdivision in Hutto, near FM 685 and Brushy Creek.

The project is expected to cost $18.8 million and was approved by voters in May 2008, according to the HISD.

"We are very excited about this school—it's wonderful to be opening schools instead of closing them," Superintendent Doug Killian said in a statement. "Norman Elementary will help accommodate the increasing student enrollment we are seeing in our district."

During the 2014-15 school year, Hutto's enrollment increased by more than 5 percent to around 6,189 students, and that number is expected to rise, according to the Hutto ISD.

Emily Parks, public information officer for the school district, said construction is on schedule for the 92,000-square foot building, which is expected to open in July 2016 and accommodate 780 students.

According to city design documents, the school will incorporate several sustainable features, including geothermal and solar energy, water-efficient plumbing, a rainwater collection system and a working windmill.

In addition, Norman Elementary's location in a neighborhood with an existing sidewalk system will enable many students to walk to school, according to design documents.

"The location will offer a true neighborhood location for our newest campus," Parks said. "The developer offered us the property during the economic downturn. With the growth coming back as it has, that site has been an excellent location for us."

The Norman Elementary groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. on the school's site, 101 Llano River Trail in the Riverwalk community of Hutto.