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Construction Projects make progress in the Meridian Public School District

Photo of construction at Northwest Middle School.

Supply chain issues, weather, and some unforeseen circumstances caused issues with construction projects being delayed, but according to Clay Sims, MPSD Director of Operations, the work on projects is gaining momentum district-wide.

“Thankfully, that’s getting better now, and the bond funding’s work has been able to pick up speed,” said Sims.

In 2022, the citizens of Meridian, Mississippi, made a transformative decision for the future of their schools by approving a $34 million no-tax-increase bond issue. This funding is being directed toward major renovations and construction projects across campuses within the Meridian Public School District. There are also several projects taking place that are being funded with ESSER funding. 

The projects, which are being carried out in phases, are currently underway at Meridian High School, Northwest Middle School, Magnolia Middle School, Carver Elementary, and Crestwood Elementary. The projects aim to modernize facilities, enhance safety, and create more conducive learning environments for students. 

Although the district wasn’t able to incorporate all of the improvements wanted – the focus is now on making sure to include the upgrades that were promised to the public, which includes creating secure, attractive learning spaces for our students and staff for many years to come.

“We are very excited about the momentum taking place right now in the district,” said Dr. Amy Carter, MPSD Superintendent. “I applaud the work of our team in making sure we deliver what we promised to the community. Without them – this would not have been possible.”

Here’s a closer look at the progress and scope of the construction at each of these schools:

Meridian High School
Estimated Completion Date: February 2025

Meridian High School, the district’s only high school, is undergoing some of the most extensive upgrades. The renovations are focused on improving both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the campus. Major upgrades include:

Photo of MHS Construction Work

Administrative Addition: The new addition will connect the 9th grade building to the 10-12 side of campus. This will create a single point of entry for students and any visitors coming to campus.

Activities Building: The activities building will see new flooring, ceiling tiles, and paint to give the area a renewed look.

Athletic Facilities: Work on the combined baseball/softball complex will be completed in time for the start of the 2025 seasons for both teams. This will mark the first time in over fifty years that baseball has been played on campus.

Security Enhancements: A new intercom system was recently installed to create a single connection to all areas of campus including Ross Collins. Perimeter fencing will also be installed on campus. Access control systems will be installed across campus to automate locks & monitor all exterior doors.

ADA: Improvements to ADA accessibility are currently underway at Ross Collins Career and Technical Center. A new covered walkway and ADA-compliant connector are currently being constructed and the public can look forward to seeing those very shortly.

Magnolia Middle School
Estimated Completion Date: July / August 2025

Magnolia Middle School is receiving important infrastructure and facility upgrades aimed at enhancing the student experience.

Photo of Magnolia Construction.

A new unified entrance area will enhance the look of the campus and provide one point of entry for visitors to campus. The new space will make possible the expansion & renovation of the cafeteria and library. 

A new band hall and chorus area will be added to the end of the existing auditorium – freeing up additional classroom space for instruction while giving these programs new rehearsal spaces. 

The campus will receive painting throughout to give the campus a fresh new look.

Like other campuses – the school will receive perimeter fencing, access control systems, and a new intercom.

Northwest Middle School
Estimated Completion Date: Start of 2025-2026 School Year

Photo of Northwest Construction.

Northwest Middle School will receive security upgrades similar to the rest of the district — perimeter fencing, access control, and a new intercom will be added along with a new secure administrative entrance area where all visitors to the campus can be vetted before being allowed access to the rest of the campus. 

To accommodate the school’s growing interest in the arts a new band hall is being built at Northwest. This allows more space for the choral program giving them ample space to rehearse.

The school is also being painted throughout to give the school an updated appearance. Additionally, the campus will be getting accessibility upgrades that incorporate a new entrance to the gym area. 

G.W. Carver Elementary
Estimated Completion Date: July 2025

Photo of G.W. Carver Elementary.

Work at George Washington Carver Elementary consists of ESSER and bond-funded work.

The ESSER work includes the work on the cooling tower that will improve the efficiency and reliability of the HVAC systems on campus benefitting the campus for years to come. Previously Carver received additional ESSER upgrades that replaced the roof and added HVAC systems to the gym dressing rooms.

The Bond-funded work includes adding a new administrative entrance area that creates a single secure entry point for visitors to campus. Construction is nearing completion on a ring road around campus that will allow for an easier dismissal process in the afternoons. Carver's intercom system was upgraded last Summer as part of the bond work and the existing access control system will be expanded to cover the entire campus as part of this project. 

Crestwood Elementary
Completion Date: December 2024

Photo of Crestwood Construction.

Like Carver, Crestwood Elementary is seeing a combination of ESSER and Bond Funded work take place on its campus.

The ESSER work includes the funding of a new building that will accommodate the school’s growing student population. This new space will add two new classrooms and a multipurpose room that is useful for many things, such as assemblies, P.E., and much more. 

Bond work on the campus consists of adding an administrative entrance consistent with others in the district as well as access controls and perimeter fencing that enhances the overall appearance and security of the campus.

 

Phase 2 Elementary Campus Updates
Parkview, Poplar Springs, Harris Lower Elementary, our Little Wildcat Academy, and West Hills Elementary — will all get similar upgrades with secure perimeter fencing, access controls, and accessibility improvements that work is being planned right now.  Work is ongoing with our partners at Dale-Bailey Architects, and we look forward to getting those projects up and running very soon.

Hope within the district is that there will be a new sense of pride among students and the community once all of the projects are completed. From consistent paint themes and design – work is being done to create uniformity across the district, notes Sims.

“We are all Wildcats – we all bleed blue, and we look forward to being able to showcase that for our community and create a sense of pride for them as well,” said Sims.