GREENWOOD, Del. - The Woodbridge School District announced it is seeking a Certificate of Necessity from the Delaware Department of Education for the construction of a brand new Woodbridge Middle School.
The proposed project would replace the current middle school with a new facility designed for middle grade students. Officials say the new school would be approximately 96,373 square feet with a capacity of 650 students. The district owns property adjacent to Woodbridge High School that would be used as the site of the new school.
The district says the request is centered around three major areas of concern. The first is the age of the current middle school. Portions of the building date back to the 1930s, and the building needs significant and expensive repairs to major systems. These include hot water and steam systems, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and more.
District officials say a task force of community members and district stakeholders assessed the long-term facility needs of the current Woodbridge Middle School. The task force ultimately decided that constructing a new building would be a more feasible long-term solution than upgrading the existing building.
Another key area of concern for the district is bringing Woodbridge Middle School into the modern era of education. Officials say the current building is limited in instructional flexibility and prevents the district from delivering modern educational programs effectively. Furthermore, the existing school requires several security upgrades to meet current regulations.
Finally, district officials argue a new Woodbridge Middle School would be an investment in the future of Woodbridge students as well as the community. They say the benefits of a modern facility include flexible instructional spaces, updated technology and infrastructure, enhanced safety and security, and an environment designed to support students in all ways for generations to come.
"This project is about creating the kind of learning environment our students need to be successful now and in the future," said Dr. Kevin Long, Superintendent of the Woodbridge School District. "Investing in a new middle school is an investment in our students, our staff, and the future of the Woodbridge community."
The submission of the Certificate of Necessity request to the Delaware Department of Education marks an important step in Delaware's major capital improvement process, but does not mean construction is already beginning, officials say. If approved, the district could then hold a referendum to build the new school.
The Woodbridge School District says it will continue providing updates on the project.
