Oak View Middle School Expansion Underway

NEWBERRY – On a cold Feb. 7 afternoon under overcast skies, Alachua County Public school leaders, Newberry commissioners and 150 Oak View Middle School fifth graders gathered behind the school on an empty lot, The purpose was to celebrate the groundbreaking for a new 24,000-square-foot building that will include 16 classrooms and a multipurpose collaborative learning center.

The construction is among the first major projects paid for with revenues from the “Half-Cent for Schools” voter initiative that was approved by voters in 2018. The local sales tax was increased to 7 cents, which is estimated to generate $22 million annually that can be used for school infrastructure projects for 12 years. 

With the rapid growth in population as well as the aging public school buildings, the school district is expanding school facilities and updating current buildings to meet increasing need.  The initiative has already funded the new Terwilliger Elementary School and the revitalized Metcalfe Elementary, Idylwild Elementary and Howard Bishop Middle School campuses. The Terwilliger, Metcalfe and Bishop projects have already been completed, and Idylwild is nearing completion. The new building at Oak View will cost the school district an estimated $9 million.

The groundbreaking ceremony was kicked off with remarks by Oak View Principal Kelly Armstrong. She said the new building is needed because of growth occurring in Newberry and Alachua County. When she served as assistant principal at Oak View Middle School there were approximately 550 students enrolled in the school. Now the middle school has about 900. 

“The new building will help reduce overcrowding and replace some of the portable classrooms currently in use,” said. Armstrong.  “We're looking at 12 to 13 portables right now that we currently have that are full and being used every day.”

Also on hand at the groundbreaking was District Superintendent Carlee Simon who discussed the safety changes that the COVID pandemic has placed on schools and that the sales tax will also help pay for updating the school's HVAC system.

School Board member Robert Hyatt directly addressed students at the groundbreaking. “The people of Alachua County, including the people in your communities, work and continue to pay taxes to have the best facilities we can,” said Hyatt.  “Not for us, but for you, because you are worth every effort and every penny. You are our future.”

Domenic Scorpio, CEO and president of the Scorpio Corporation, discussed construction of the building that his company is overseeing.  “This is really an exciting time for us. Scorpio is a community-centered, purpose-driven construction company,” said Scorpio.  “And it's with tremendous gratitude that we're offered the opportunity to partner with the Alachua County school district to build your new home.”  Scorpio anticipates that the project will be completed by the end of November 2022.

Each of the fifth grade classes were given an opportunity to insert something from their class into a time capsule that will be buried during construction.  The time capsule is scheduled to be re-opened around the time the current students reach their mid-30s. 

A student spokesperson for each class addressed the audience and described what they were putting in the capsule. The items included a class photos, a set of multiplication tables and a pencil, a facemask with signatures, a favorite fidget, and a collage of their favorite activities including logos representing Instagram, TikTok and Minecraft. 

As time for the groundbreaking arrived, speakers were joined by school board members Mildred Russell and Leanetta McNealy as well as Dorothy Thomas, president of the Newberry PTO.  Also joining in were Newberry City Commissioners Rick Coleman, Mark Clark and Tony Mazon, along with construction supervisors. Each grabbed a shovel by a large pile of sand and turned the dirt, officially kicking off construction to the cheers and applause of the students.

“These little highlights, these little days, these little moments really are special. I enjoy it,” said Oak View Principal Armstrong.  “But the key thing is for us to always say, it's not about us, it's about the kids ... that's why we're here.”

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