K-8 defies rain delays to stay on schedule as MUSD lays cornerstone

By David Iversen, Reporter
Oct 29, 2025

Community members, school district leaders and construction partners gathered for a cornerstone ceremony at the new K-8 campus in Sorrento. There was a lot to celebrate, said school leaders, namely another school being built with voter backing and an on-schedule build, despite stormwater setbacks.

“This is just such a wonderful symbol of what great partners can make happen here in the city of Maricopa,” said Superintendent Dr. Tracey Lopeman. “Let’s not forget that this is powered by voter approval … and fortified by our city partnerships and our construction team and our architect to keep this moving forward to be on time and on budget.”

The leaders spoke against the backdrop of crews from Tempe-based Chasse Building Team working on the foundation. Lopeman framed the cornerstone event as a “benchmark moment” with taxpayers and Maricopa families.

“When we’re spending taxpayer money to make sure a promise comes to life, we want you to be here, to commemorate the fact that this is coming to life,” Lopeman said. “We are literally building the foundation for workforce development, college-going pathways right here. Literally and figuratively, we are investing in students. When you invest in children and students, you’re investing in the future of Maricopa.”

Construction continued as the audience clapped; metal clangs of rebar on fresh concrete carried over the crowd.

Construction is on schedule to complete the new school by July, ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Crews recently had a minor setback when stormwater flooded the construction site.

“We did pour Building C right before the hurricane stuff came through, like the day before,” said Andy Gooding, the Chasse superintendent to the MUSD school board last week.

“Monday, we got in and it was just impossible to work. Tuesday… we all kind of have a pumping party… we have pumps going everywhere… Wednesday we were back full at it. So, about day and a half is what we lost out of that.”

“A little mud on the boots,” summed up Gooding.

The dirt was dry this morning when the new school’s planning principal Elizabeth Allison marked the occasion “the beginning of a story.”

“This cornerstone we lay today is more than concrete and mortar. It’s the beginning of a story, a story of hope, possibility and the belief that every child who walks these halls will discover their own potential. Together we are not just laying bricks. We are building the future one cornerstone at a time.”

Architect Jonathan Scolaro of Phoenix-based Grace Design Studios said the team worked to match the building to the school board’s ambition.

“It’s been a real joy… to learn about their vision and their desire for these kids to have real-world, practical skills. They get excited about math and science and reading by applying them in real-world application,” he said. “These kids are going to spend nine years of their life in this building. So, we want it to be an exciting and inviting place, a safe place, a welcoming place, a beautiful place.”

Chasse’s construction lead, Tim Goyette, added: “The cornerstone is the guide for how you build a building. When you set a cornerstone, you have to set it plumb, you have to set it level. It’s so fitting for an elementary and middle school because this is what guides building up. And it’s the same thing for children. Like, this is where it starts.”

Five ceremonial bricks were laid by school board members Carolyn Lopez, Patti Coutré, Shawnté Rothschild, Allison and Dr. Lopeman.

MUSD officials lay ceremonial bricks at the Sorrento K-8 cornerstone event as crews from Chasse Building Team continue foundation work. Oct. 29, 2025. [David Iversen]

David Iversen, Reporter

A seasoned investigative journalist, David has worked across broadcast, print, podcasts and documentaries. His podcast, The Line, won a DuPont Award in 2021. A Columbia Journalism School graduate, David arrived in Maricopa in 2021.