Going Up: Construction Continues On New Ernest Ward Middle

March 10, 2014

Construction is making visible progress for a new $17 million Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. The new building, expected  to open to students as early as January 2015, following Christmas Break 2014, will be an ultra modern, energy efficient building.

Escambia County voters played a big part in making the $17 million facility a reality, thanks to the voter-approved half cent sales tax. Escambia is one of 16 of Florida’s 67 counties where voters have approved the half cent sales tax, which can be used for construction projects.

“If it were not for the half cent sales tax, we could not do things like build the new Ernest Ward,” Escambia County Schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said.

For more photos showing the construction progress as of about two weeks ago, click here. NorthEscambia.com will continue to provide construction updates and photos periodically over the next year.

The oldest buildings on the current Ernest Ward campus, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896.

Pictured top and inset: Recent aerial photos of construction at Ernest Ward Middle School  show the footprint of the new building, directly behind the current school. (courtesy FastAerial.com). Pictured below: Class construction. Pictured bottom: The foundation. Pictured bottom: Lunchroom foundation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Going Up: Construction Continues On New Ernest Ward Middle”

  1. Michelle on March 10th, 2014 9:29 am

    So exciting for all the students and teachers as well as the community.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News