CAMDEN – Almost a year to the day, September 13, 2018, the ground was broken for the new Camden Rockport Middle School. Marybeth Van Keuren from the SAD28 School District and Peter Reynolds, project manager for Ledgewood Construction gave guided tours to groups of people on Monday, August 26, to see first hand how the construction was coming along.

Reynolds said construction was a little over halfway complete, at 60 percent.

“The schedule was for two years,” he said. “We are on time and on schedule. Construction is slated to be completed by the next school year.”

Reynolds said that would put the time at around June or July.

Once construction is completed demolition of the existing school with the exception of the Mary E. Taylor building would begin.

The district would have the summer months to move in and prepare for the opening of the 2020 school year.

The new school is constructed on three levels. Offices, cafeteria, auditorium, library, and gym are all conveniently located at the entrance. Chorus and band rooms are located to the rear and side of the auditorium.

The auditorium will seat approximately 200 people.

Classrooms are all located further back and on different levels with the mechanical rooms on the lower level.

Reynolds said by using the existing slope of the land the designers had done a wonderful job of hiding how big the school really is from the street level. 

Describing how the entrance and rooms will be appointed one of the ladies on the tour commented that she hoped they made the students remove their shoes before they entered the building.

The photos exemplify the different areas of the new school. At this point, all the rooms are basically metal framed and one room looks like the next. A home science room looks no different than a biological science room.

The new school is taking shape and it is fascinating to watch its progression. 

See related article: https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/it-s-not-your-father-s-middle-school-anymore/107601