An announcement that work has been completed at Newcastle Middle School came with the fanfare of a ribbon cutting on January 8.
Project construction company Nabholz Corporation and designers MA+ Architects joined with Newcastle Public Schools officials in making the announcement.
The work, paid for from proceeds of the 2022 bond issue approved by Newcastle voters, included six new classrooms, two of which are safe rooms, new restrooms, and new water fountains.
Dr. Cathy Walker, superintendent of schools, said she thanks all of the Newcastle residents for voting yes, making the projects possible.
She said the new classrooms have new furniture and plenty of storage space. She said two of the new classrooms are safe rooms and have a bathroom between them which is also a safe room. One of the two safe rooms is a classroom for Special Education. It has a full kitchen and a washer and a dryer to help teach the students life skills.
“I am thrilled that we are able to offer this type of curriculum for our students,” Walker said.
The new water fountains are against a tiled wall, and they have water bottle fillers.
Two other new restrooms have what Walker said were nice sink options with automatic water. The boy’s restroom has four stalls, while the girl’s restroom has six stalls.
Walker said, “I’m excited to have this quality of restroom in our facility.”
She added that all the new facilities are great spaces for the students to have school.
Work continues at Newcastle High School. The construction company began pouring concrete, and steel is arriving in early February as crews begin to work on the south side of the building. Walker said the east building remodel will start in early February as well.
