ICYMI Construction Begins on Rosa Parks Elementary Expansion

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Journal-News: Construction Begins on Rosa Parks Elementary Expansion 

Journal-News Staff Writer Michael D. Clark shares with readers the Rosa Parks Elementary Expansion Project is moving ground. Not only will the project alleviate space and enrollment concerns, but as Marlon Styles, Jr., MCSD Superintendent says, the finished building will be a modern addition to the city’s revitalization and it will bring “new life to the community’s bright future.”

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Construction begins on $10M Middletown school expansion

March 30, 2020

By Michael D. Clark, Journal-News Staff Writer

“Construction has started on a $10 million school campus expansion that Middletown School officials say will help both relieve elementary classroom overcrowding and improve learning spaces… 

“When the new addition is opened in August 2021, officials said the current Rosa Parks Elementary will look radically different...

“The school will have 13 additional classrooms, but its current learning spaces will be dramatically remodeled to better accommodate a new instructional approach — Challenge Based Learning (CBL)... 

“Rosa Parks will then begin to draw enrollment from throughout the 6,400-student district, reducing crowded elementary class sizes throughout the school system… 

“We believe the Rosa Parks Elementary expansion project is about bringing the city of Middletown together. Rosa Parks Elementary is at the center of the city … (and) we want our school’s modern addition to be our part of revitalizing and bringing new life to the community’s bright future,” said Superintendent Marlon Styles Jr….

“The CBL learning technique duplicates – in an age-appropriate style – a team project approach toward solving real-world problems using traditional academic subjects. CBL also encourages the development of interactive communication skills, leadership and teamwork that will better prepare students for their work careers as adults… 

“The $10 million construction plan’s funds are left over from a $86 million project that led to a new middle school and expanded high school… 

“Elizabeth Beadle, spokeswoman for Middletown Schools, said the additional learning spaces will have city-wide impact… 

“‘The Rosa Parks Elementary expansion project means we will no longer have to convert closets to classrooms or provide intervention in a (school) hallway,” said Beadle. “The addition gives all Middletown elementary students the appropriate space to learn and thrive during their time inside our schools.’”