Islander Middle School Design Sketch | Contributed Image

There’s another exciting milestone ahead for the Mercer Island School District.  On Friday, March 27th at 2 pm, the Mercer Island School Board will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Islander Middle School expansion project.  All community members are invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place at the middle school.

“The expansion of Islander Middle School is very exciting for our community. This groundbreaking ceremony represents the success of our joint efforts to improve learning conditions for every one of our public school students,” said Mercer Island School District Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano in a press release.

In a special election in February 2014, Mercer Island voters overwhelmingly approved a $98.8 million bond to fund three school expansion projects, including: 1) building of a fourth elementary school; 2) expansion of the middle school; and 3) adding 10 additional classrooms to the Mercer Island High School. The bond passed with 74% of voters in favor.

According to the press release, the middle school expansion project “will include 14 new classrooms and lab spaces, and reconfigured commons and cafeteria, gymnasiums, music rooms, and administrative space. The school currently uses nine portable classrooms to handle current enrollment levels and is more than 200 students over design capacity.”

Mayor Bruce Bassett and the Mercer Island City Council have been invited.  The school district recently celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for the future fourth elementary school. Regular construction updates are available at www.MercerIslandSchools.org/Construction.

Islander Middle School is located at 8225 SE 72nd St.