New middle school breaks ground at Tortosa

In a familiar sight for Maricopa the past few months, city and education officials joined the public for a ceremonial school ground-breaking Friday, this one for a new middle school in the Tortosa community.

Superintendent Dr. John Flores said he is grateful for what Maricopa Unified School District has and what they have been able to do. He also stressed the importance of facilitating the success of students in Maricopa.

“The students here in Maricopa are our future,” Flores said.

Mayor Kelly Anderson echoed Dr. Flores’ comments and congratulated the school district on its vision for Maricopa and its future. Anderson noted that this ground-breaking was particularly special to him because the location used to be his family’s farm land.

McCarthy Construction’s John Nesbitt informed the crowd that the construction team is hoping to complete the first phase of the school, which includes 31 classrooms, by Aug. 1. The rest of the school is expected to be finished by November.

In closing, architect Don Brubaker of Gilleland Brubaker Architects reminded the crowd that with so many schools currently under construction, it is critical to remember that each one is important and should be maintained as such.

In November, ground-breaking ceremonies were held for two new elementary schools and the reconstruction of the high school.

Photos by Katie Winkley

Note: For additional information on MUSD’s plans for new schools, read the Jan/Feb 2008 issue of 85293 The Magazine, which will be available online and in residents’ mailboxes this week.