Groundbreaking held for new Lake Road Middle School after last-minute move from site

Dr. Brewer, a presenter at a superintendent showcase, said the district conducted a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Lake Road Middle School on the scheduled morning after organizers shifted the event because the new site was too muddy to host the ceremony.

"And speaking about groundbreaking, our audience will notice we're not at the new site," Dr. Brian Green, principal of Lake Road Middle School, said, explaining staff received a call about 8:40 a.m. and moved the 9:30 a.m. program to Lakewood Middle School.

The alternate-site ceremony included a performance by the school band, students leading the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, and student speakers who described what it will be like to move from sixth grade into eighth grade at the new campus. "We pulled it off and went very well," Dr. Green said, thanking learners and families for participating.

Dr. Brewer said the event also included elected officials and district leaders. "We were truly honored to have Congressman Randy Fine with us, also Representative Bridal Chamberlain," he said, and he told the audience that Rep. Fine's office "helped us with some of our congressional permits needed to remove the sand skinks that were located on this site." Dr. Brewer added that the district also awaited a special permit to address gopher tortoises on the property.

The superintendent's remarks also noted the project was approved by the school board in February with a total budget of $65,000,000. The district is planning the new campus to be ready for the August 2027 school year, Dr. Brewer said. The transcript did not include vote details from the February board action.

The ceremony closed with officials and students taking part in the traditional shovel ceremony and thanking the community and partners who helped bring the project to the ground-breaking stage.