Elected officials, community leaders and school administrators gathered at Meridian High School Monday afternoon to kick off construction of a new administration and entrance addition to the high school campus.
The project, which is being funded by a $34 million bond approved by Meridian voters in August 2022, is part of a larger effort to upgrade the district’s buildings and integrate security to help keep students, staff and visitors safe.
Meridian Public School District Superintendent Amy Carter said she was excited to get the project started and looked forward to the benefits it will bring the school.
“So often we say we have amazing students and educators in Meridian Public School District, and today is a testament of the citizens getting behind our schools, our district, and you’re saying, ‘Hey, you’re worth the investment,’” she said. “So on behalf of the students, the staff, the Board of Trustees I want to thank the community for supporting this effort.”
Carter said Monday’s groundbreaking was the first of several events to celebrate the beginning and ending of projects that MPSD has planned and underway across the district. Residents will see work beginning on a number of projects at MPSD campuses in the near future, she said.
“Our Board of Trustees, administration, students and staff at MHS are so excited about this construction beginning,” she said. “Over the next several months, the community will see work begin to take place on many of our campuses that will improve them for years to come.”
Clay Sims, director of operations for MPSD, said residents will see materials being staged and fencing going up around the project site in the near future. The project will be underway by the end of the school year and some impact to campus operations are expected.
By the time students return in August, Sims said, both the administration and entrance project and the new softball and baseball complex will be taking shape.
Sims, a 1994 graduate of Meridian High School, also extended his thanks to the community for approving the bond funds and said he is glad to be able to bring the projects into reality and make the school safer for students and staff in the future.
“I’m very please to have been able to serve the district for the number of years that I have, and I’m very pleased to be able to lead the way I do in this district and make the improvements to make our campuses safer for the future.”
Meridian City Councilman Joe Norwood Jr., who serves as president of the City Council congratulated Carter, Sims and the MPSD Board of Trustees for making the campus upgrades happen.
“As a 2001 graduate of Meridian High School, this is a long time coming,” he said. “Great aesthetics and also providing security for our students to make sure that they are safe everyday.”