Hilton Head Island Middle School holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for extensive renovations and STEM addition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023
BEAUFORT – School officials, students, Board of Education members, and community supporters gathered at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the unveiling of Hilton Head Middle School’s extensive renovations and STEM addition funded through the bond referendum approved by county voters in November 2019. The event today unveiled the new STEM addition, courtyards, and media center. The project will continue the renovations of the classroom wings throughout the year with the completion of the total project in 2024.
This major school upgrade was funded by the 2019 School Bond Referendum through the generosity of our taxpayers.
Board of Education Chair Christina Gwozdz
The $31.1 million construction project for Hilton Head Island Middle School includes:
BASE BUILDING WORK:
- Site Drainage/Site Lighting/Landscape Improvements
- Parking Additions/Paving Repairs/Fire Access Improvements
- System Renovations for:
- Lighting upgrades
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Fire Protection
- Plumbing
- Replacement of some Exterior Windows and Doors
- General Interior Refurbishment and Replacement of Casework (cabinetry) throughout
- Information and Security Technology Upgrades
ADDITIONS & RENOVATIONS:
- Improved Courtyards
- Upgraded new main entrance to secured public entry area
- Refurbished and renovated:
- PE locker room
- Gym
- Auditorium
- Media center
- Existing art rooms
- Existing 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classrooms
- Addition of a 9,500 sf classroom-wing with STEM classrooms, general classrooms, teacher work area and storage, and restrooms
- Transportation Office that was relocated from a mobile into the new addition
In addition to student performances, speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included Board of Education Chair Christina Gwozdz, Superintendent Frank Rodriguez, and Hilton Head Island Middle School Principal Clint Austin.
Both Gwozdz and Rodriguez expressed appreciation to county voters who approved the school district’s bond referendum. “This major school upgrade was funded by the 2019 School Bond Referendum through the generosity of our taxpayers,” Gwozdz said. “These significant improvements and modernization of Hilton Head Island Middle School will provide students with an educational environment that fosters academic achievement and personal growth.”
Sumpter-based Thompson Turner Construction is the contractor for the renovations and the designer of record is Savannah-based LS3P Associates, Ltd.
All referendum projects and expenditures are being independently monitored by the Citizen-Led Oversight Committee, which was represented at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Hilton Head Island Middle School.
Supporting video footage: https://youtu.be/qPtK9fdfdVI