The state broke ground today for its newest school, Puu Kukui Elementary on Maui.

At a ceremony, Gov. Neil Abercrombie said two of the state’s most important goals are investing in education and growing jobs.

“By building a 21st century campus at Puu Kukui Elementary, we will be doing both,” he said in a news release. “Our administration is investing our dollars into putting our children first.”

Construction on the school is scheduled to wrap up in August 2012. The $37.1 million, 98,562-square-foot facility sits on 14 acres on Kehalani Mauka Parkway in Wailuku.