Principal Bob Smith presided over the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Mills Park Middle School Friday morning, Aug. 20. Following the ceremony, students led community members on tours of the school which opens for the first day of the traditional calendar on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
WCPSS Interim Superintendent Donna Hargens, Board of Education Chair Ron Margiotta, Wake County Commissioners Lindy Brown and Paul Coble, and Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht all spoke during the event before cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
“I am extremely excited to be a part of the opening of Mills Park Middle School. What we see today is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of many talented people,” Hargens said. “As we celebrate the hard work that got us to this occasion and look to the future possibilities, I am confident that Principal Bob Smith will provide the leadership and vision necessary to make Mills Park a wonderful place of learning for all students. He has put together an energetic, caring and knowledgeable team of faculty and staff to help guide students into becoming successful 21st century leaders.”
Margiotta thanked the Town of Cary for their role in helping the new school become reality.
“Through an interlocal agreement with the Town of Cary, the school system was able to purchase the property for this school at a reduced rate,” he said. “A joint use agreement allowed us to work with the Cary Parks and Recreation Department to upgrade the standard features on our athletic fields, creating a beautiful, park-like setting around the school that will benefit the entire community for years to come.”
Designed by Skinner Lamm & Highsmith and constructed by D.H. Griffin Construction Company, the new middle school is built from a new 1,310-capacity prototype. The three-story building is expected to open with 1,025 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. Each grade level will occupy a different floor of the school.
Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Wake County Commissioner Lindy Brown, Principal Bob Smith, Board of Education Chair Ron Margiotta, WCPSS Interim Superintendent Donna Hargens, and County Commissioner Paul Coble prepare to cut the ribbon.
Principal Bob Smith welcomes students, parents, building partners and community members to the event.
The 197,071 square-foot building is located on a 35-acre site adjacent to Mills Park Elementary. The design makes extensive use of day-lighting which should improve the learning environment of the school and save the district money on energy costs.